Andy Berger dead at 49
Berger was also a member of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and the Irrigation Association of Long Island. He was well known throughout the East Meadow community, and was loved dearly by both family and friends.
Berger¹s wife, Suzie, described her husband as a gentle giant with a big heart. ³Andy was a wonderful, loving husband, a true friend and a man with a heart of gold,² she said.
Ray Ciappa, manager of Gallons Per Minute at Bethpage, a lawn sprinkler supplier, called Berger a nice person to be around. ³He was one of my contractors for many years and was just a fun guy and a prankster,² Ciappa said. ³He would sing songs and was just a nice guy. It¹s just very sad.²
Dr. Les Markowitz, a dentist in East Meadow, said that Berger was always putting everyone above himself. ³He was a good friend and meant well to everyone,² Markowitz said. ³I knew him for over 25 years and he was my best friend. He would come to my office every day just to chat. He was like a brother to me, and I will miss him.²
Ira Kleiner, another of Berger¹s good friends and an East Meadow resident, added, ³He looked menacing to anyone who didn¹t know him, but he was a teddy bear. He was a family man, and loved his kids. On the Fourth of July, he would bring out his fireworks display, but half of them were duds. It was fun. He was great to talk to, and although we didn¹t talk a lot, we were always on the same page. Andy was very well known and liked, and my family will surely miss him.²
Berger is survived by his wife, his children from a previous marriage, Amanda, 18, Jason, 17, and Sammy, 9; his father Ted, sister Amy, nephew Chris, stepson Peter and stepdaughters Amber and Fernanda.
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