For decades, Neil Berlin was a fixture at Camps Airy & Louise in Western Maryland. In honor of Berlin — who passed away in February of 2022 at age 44 after a nearly five-year battle with colorectal cancer — the Jewish summer sleepaway camps recently dedicated significant spaces in memory of the director of operations for Airy and Louise.
During a staff orientation on June 22, Airy officials dedicated the camp’s basketball court at the Chernak Gymnasium to Berlin, who spent many days and nights there as a camper, counselor, unit leader, year-round director of operations and member of the Order of the Leaf, the fraternal organization for Airy staff.
Last summer, Louise dedicated the Neil Berlin Stage at Jill’s Place, the theater named in memory of Jill Bearman, who attended the camp in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Berlin’s name was painted on the Airy basketball court’s sideline in tribute to his love for his alma mater, Duke University, and for the Airy Basketball League.
A plaque there reads: “We remember Neil on the court where he competed, with the heart and spirit that only a Duke University Blue Devil could show.”
During the dedication ceremony, Marty Rochlin, director of Airy and co-executive director of Airy & Louise, shared a few personal stories about Berlin, who lived in Owings Mills.
“Neil and I were friends for a long, long time, and I wanted to share a part of that history to help you understand why it’s important and special to me to be able to put this mark here at Airy for Neil, to celebrate all he did for us, for both camps,” Rochlin said. “He and his family will always be special to us.”
Among those attending the dedication ceremony were Berlin’s wife, Alicia Berlin, director of Louise and co-executive director of Airy & Louise, and their daughters, Hannah and Marissa, 16, and Ellie, 14.
Also in attendance were his mother, Sherry Berlin, sister Beth Cohen, and nieces, Harper and Avery.
Linda L. Esterson is a local freelance writer.
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