SOUTHBURY, CONN–Bertram Metz Reisman, an accomplished journalist, businessman and wonderful family man, died June 25 in Southbury, CT. He was 96 years old when he passed peacefully at home. His family, friends, and business associates will remember Bert for his amazing intellect, positivity and love of laughter.  Levity was his law. Eternal optimism was his spirit.  

Bert Reisman was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 1, 1929, the only child of immigrant parents.  He attended Boys High and graduated from New York University in 1941 with a degree in journalism. It was during those years as a Brooklyn youth when he developed his passion for baseball and his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers.

While at NYU, Bert met his first wife Sydelle Silver – they enjoyed 43 years of marriage prior to her passing.  They left for New York City for Durango, Colorado – a couple of city kids headed to the wild and remote west.   

He was a cub reporter for the Durango Herald and never looked back, going on to write for the St. Joseph (Missouri) Gazette and the Rochester (New York) Times Union. His credentials included features with the likes of Willie Mays, Jonas Salk and J. Robert Oppenheimer.  When he quoted the latter saying, “physics is a young man’s game,” it created headlines around the country that some veteran physicists protested.

He left journalism in 1959 for corporate communications landing at IBM where he worked for 30 years.   After he reached mandatory retirement age, Bert spent six years as a senior consultant at Burson-Marstellar.    

During his tenure with IBM, his marketing and communications skills put him front and center of IBM’s evolution from mainframe technology – he spearheaded the public relations launch of the IBM 360 – to the personal computer – he was responsible for the award-winning campaigns that featured Charlie Chaplain and the M*A*S*H characters, respectively.  By the time he left IBM, he oversaw the company’s advertising, media relations and market research. 

His nicknames during those years ranged from Big Buddha (a nod to not only his executive position, but his robust physique). Ironically, he earned the name Twinkletoes while playing a nimble third base for the IBM softball team.

He was a resident of Westport, Connecticut for 35 years, active in local politics and served on the Westport Library Board of Trustees.  He enjoyed an all-consuming involvement in Westport Little League as organizer, umpire, and manager. The apex of his Little League experiences also carried some marvelous irony – he led a team (coincidentally named the “Dodgers”) to a championship and always suggested it was great revenge for the Brooklyn version leaving New York.  

He met his second wife when he moved to Stratford – they went on to have a beautiful romance and 16-year marriage before Louise passed in 2021. 

Bert split his time between Connecticut and the Boulders Resort in Carefree, Arizona.   His passion for golf flourished at the Boulders where he joined a group – The Mulligans – devoted to golf, laughter, and community service.    This group quickly captured Bert’s heart – they were jocular and joyful which helped Bert overcome his perpetual inability to fix his pronounced slice.

While Bert had a passion for baseball (the Mets), NY Times Crossword Puzzles (did them in pen), food, travel and photography, he will always be remembered by his family for his unconditional support, generosity, and sense of humor.   

Even in his last days, his humor never waned, quietly suggesting that his granddaughter looked like Marilyn Monroe and whispering “if only the Mets played as well as his Little League Dodgers” – just a few examples.

He is survived by daughters Robin Reisman of Westport, Jodie Naber and son-in-law Mark Naber of Sanibel Island Florida, his son Mike Reisman of Westport and his grandchildren, Samantha Sydelle of Providence and Charlie Reisman of Los Angeles.

The family will hold a private service. Donations in Bert’s name can be made to the Amazin’ Mets Foundation.  Please notify the family of your generosity by sending a note to mikereisman@outlook.com.