Frank Stewart Berall

March 31, 2022

Frank Stewart Berall, of Bloomfield, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2022. He was born February 10, 1929, in Manhattan, New York City. After graduating from Yale College in 1950, with a degree in Economics, he served as an army officer in the field artillery, as a forward observer and also gunnery instructor, for two years during the Korean War. Honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1952, he returned to Yale Law School, graduating in 1955, was admitted to the New York Bar, and immediately started his legal career as an associate with the Wall Street law firm of Mudge, Stern, Baldwin & Todd, while earning a Masters of Law Degree in Taxation from New York University’s School of Law (1959). In 1960, with his young family, Frank moved to Connecticut where he built his beloved home of 55 years on Penwood Pond and joined the Legal Department of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (now CIGNA). Returning to private practice in 1968, he became a partner in a predecessor of Copp & Berall, LLP. During the course of his career, he was one of the leaders of both the Connecticut and American Bar Associations, as well as the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He was an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Connecticut’s Law and Insurance Schools, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Hartford’s Graduate Tax Program and instructor in the American College (of Life Insurance). He had a lifelong passion for stamp-collecting, which led early to a deep interest in geography and history, also generating a fascination with trains. In over 40 years of marriage, he and his wife often put their “boots on the ground,” traveling across the world numerous times, by air, sea, road, camel and rail, visiting every continent and nearly every country on the globe. He served as Vice President of the Culver Summer Schools’ Alumni Association, and also as a Trustee of the Culver Education Foundation in Indiana. In 1983 he founded Culver’s marching unit of returning Alumni, a great source of pride for him, which continues to this day. Continuing Education was always important to Frank, both as a lecturer and instructor, as well as student. He was working on his PH.D. degree in Law from Leiden University in the Netherlands, right up until his death. As his health declined he retired from the practice of law and moved into assisted living at Duncaster, where he was extremely well cared for by their very patient, compassionate, and attentive staff. The family’s gratitude for their care of him is beyond words. He was a member of the Hartford Golf Club, the New York City Yale Club, The Hartford Club and the Yale Club of Hartford. Besides his wife, Jenefer Carey Berall, he leaves a son, Erik D. Berall of Hilo, Hawaii, a daughter, Elissa A. Berall and grandson, Liam A. Berall-Gaard, both of Oakland, California. He was predeceased by his parents, Louis J. and Jeannette F. Berall, and his first wife, Christiana Johnson. Friends may call on Thursday, April 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. His funeral service will be held Friday, April 8 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 679 Farmington Ave., West Hartford. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Ave., West Hartford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Duncaster, 80 Loeffler Rd., Bloomfield, CT 06002 or the ALZ Association of CT, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489, or a charity of your choice. For online condolences please visit www.molloyfuneralhome.com stream service here https://youtu.be/aTxDP4th7Mk