Phyllis Berman

P hyllis Berman of Pound Ridge, N. Y. and Nantucket died at the age of 72 on February 19, 2009 after a long and remarkable battle with pancreatic cancer. She died at her home in Pound Ridge.

Phyllis was the only child born to Dorothy and Walter Back. She grew up in Park Ridge, N. J. and graduated from Park Ridge High School. Initially she attended the University of Wisconsin where she began many friendships which would span the rest of her life. Phyllis completed her higher education at New York University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance in 1958. After graduating from college, Phyllis began her career in the retail fashion industry. She started out as a buyer for Frederick Atkins in New York City. She moved to Pound Ridge in 1959 and continued to work for Frederick Atkins for a short time. Subsequently she took a few years off from her career to start her family. In 1969 Phyllis opened her first of several clothing stores in Pound Ridge. Innovative for its time, her store "Simply Sweaters" specialized in off-price sportswear. A few years later she opened a second store of the same name in Ridgefield, Conn. From 1978-1983 Phyllis also owned and operated "Simply Summer" a seasonal division of "Simply Sweaters" located in Nantucket. After closing her original stores she took ownership of a store called "Just Friends" in Stamford, Conn., which she owned and operated for several years.

In her retirement Phyllis enjoyed traveling, making jewelry, music and spending time with her friends and family. She was especially fond of spending time at her home in Nantucket and making an annual wintertime trip to Jamaica, W.I. Phyllis was active in the Pound Ridge Garden Club and won several awards for her creative floral arrangements. She loved movies and attended the Nantucket Film Festival annually. Phyllis is survived by her partner of 20 years George Newman of Pound Ridge, N.Y; daughters Terry Lewis of Laytonsville, Maryland and Susan Berman of Nantucket, Mass.; son-in-law Bradford Lewis and grandsons Zachary and Shepherd Lewis all also of Laytonsville, Maryland. A celebration of her life is being planned for Saturday February 28, 2009.

In lieu of flowers or food, the family asks that donations in Phyllis' honor be made to one of the following organizations: The Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, The Nantucket Conservation Foundation, or The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. I