Philip Allan Berkheimer

Philip “Phil” Berkheimer, 84, a native of Hanover, PA and a resident of Frederick since 1975, died peacefully at Frederick Health Hospital on July 19 after suffering a stroke.

Phil lived a long and abundant life marked by generosity, service, humor, travel, the pursuit of his many hobbies and interests, the ability to tell a terrific story, and—most of all—the fierce and abiding love of his family.

Curtis and Helen Berkheimer had their only child, Phil, in 1941 after being married for fourteen years. This was during the final year of the Great Depression and shortly before the Pearl Harbor attack. When Phil turned two, Curtis left to serve in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II.

Phil’s parents raised him to know the value of honesty, the importance of education, and the power of a good day’s work. His education in Hanover, PA continued at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. At F & M, he was a member of Sigma Pi Fraternity, President of the History Club and a three-year letterman in baseball, captaining the 1963 team.

After college, Phil became a Marine Corps officer and was discharged with the rank of Captain. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam from May of 1966 to June of 1967, and served at Quantico VA, 29 Palms, CA, and Camp LeJeune, NC.

In 1968, Phil began what would become a 50-year career as an investment advisor with Alex, Brown & Sons in Baltimore, MD. He would eventually retire in 2018 from Morgan Stanley, but the 26 years spent with Legg Mason were special to him due to the many lifetime friendships formed among his colleagues and clients.

Phil gave generously to the Frederick community, distinguishing himself as a fundraiser for many different organizations. A Past President of the Rotary Club of Frederick, Phil chaired the club’s campaign to raise money to eradicate polio worldwide in 1987, nearly doubling its fundraising goal. In anticipation of the Rotary Club of Frederick’s 100th birthday in 2020, he co-chaired the First Century Trust Campaign, successfully leading the club’s effort to amass a collective total of $1 million to be invested in service projects.

He served as a founding trustee of the Community Foundation of Frederick County, and the Chairman of Hood College’s Board of Trustees, Frederick Memorial Hospital’s Board of Directors, and the FMH Development Council. In 2019, Phil was proud to have been named one of the hospital’s Good Samaritans of the Year.

Phil is survived by his wife, Marj Menchey Berkheimer, as well as four children: Philip Berkheimer, Jr. and his wife Kerri (children Drew and Martha, and grandson Reiter); Betsy Pakenas and her husband Pete (children Will and Paige); Karen Morton and her husband Tom (son Tommy and grandson Thomas III); and Nicole Alvestad (son Henry). He is also survived by three stepchildren: Sando Bernstein (children Aoifé and Caiseal), Audrey Bernstein, and Greg Bernstein. Phil’s family will cherish his memory with love and admiration.

Phil maintained a lifelong interest in history, was a sports enthusiast, and played golf regularly for over five decades. During a brief hiatus from golf, he pursued aviation and obtained his private pilot license, ultimately earning an instrument rating and recording 790 flight hours. He was very proud of his notable golfing achievements: breaking par on three occasions, consistently shooting his age annually beginning at age 76, and accomplishing three aces.

In accordance with his wishes, Phil’s body was donated to help others through organ and tissue transplantation and to advance medical research.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 11:00 A.M. at Coffman Chapel at Hood College, 530 Hodson Drive in Frederick MD.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts in Phil’s name to Frederick Health Hospice, One Frederick Health Way, Frederick MD 21701; iPaw, 107 Curtis Court, Catlettsburg, KY 41129 or via PayPal at iPAWinc2022@gmail.com; or reconstruction of Brodbeck Music Hall at Hood College at hood.edu/give or mailed to Office of Institutional Advancement, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick, MD 21702 indicating Brodbeck Hall.