Matthew A. Berdon of Manhattan, Quogue, and Palm Beach, Florida, died on March 27 at the Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead after a long illness. He was 90.
Mr. Berdon was born on in Manhattan on July 31, 1919, to Sadye and Harry Berdon. A graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School and City College of New York, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and subsequently flew 30 missions over France, Germany, Holland and Belgium. He was the lead navigator of the 453rd bombing group of the 8th Air Force division, and was decorated with four Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war, he joined his brother’s accounting firm, Ferro, Berdon & Company based in New York City and became a senior partner shortly thereafter.
He also was a former chairman of the New York operation of Urbach, Kahn & Werlin. In addition, he served on the board of directors for Barnes & Noble and Beth Israel Hospital in New York City.
Over the years, he had acquired a wide range of businesses around the globe. He headed up companies such as Fairfield Equity, Ciro, an international jeweler, and Howard & Wyndham, a London-based publishing company.
He also sold his Marlboro Bookstore chain to Barnes & Noble, which led to a long relationship with the bookseller and board chairman, Leonard Riggio.
Speaking of his business savvy, his business partner Fred Groveman described him as “the smartest accountant I ever knew. And in 50 years, I have known a lot of smart accountants.”
He met his future wife, Laura Miklasz, in 1950 and married her in 1951. Though the couple never had children, family members recalled how the Berdons formed a “deep and loving relationship” with his wife’s sister’s children.
For recreation, he often found time to travel and was an avid sportsman. He played golf around the world, and belonged to several local golf clubs, such as the Noyac Golf Club, Southampton Golf Club, the City Athletic Club and the Breakers Golf Club in Florida. He was also a member of the Metropolitan Club and Doubles Club in New York City.
During his travels, he also became a member of Annabelle’s Club and the White Elephant Club of London.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Laura Berdon of Quogue; two nieces, Michele C. Jordan of Pound Ridge and Suzanne Cooke Pettit of Pennsylvania; a nephew, Edward J. Cooke III of Illinois; and a host of great-nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Peconic Bay Medical Center, 1300 Roanoke Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901 or East End Hospice. PO Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 would be appreciated by the family.
on Apr 7, 2010