Berkley

Berkley Rotary Club member still going strong after 56 years of perfect attendance

By Jeremy Selweski
C & G Staff Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Erin Sanchez Fred Bernstein, 83, of Farmington Hills has never missed a meeting in 56 years as a member of the Berkley Rotary Club. Bernstein holds the plaque that he received for serving as club president from 1960-61. Photo by Erin Sanchez Fred Bernstein, 83, of Farmington Hills has never missed a meeting in 56 years as a member of the Berkley Rotary Club. Bernstein holds the plaque that he received for serving as club president from 1960-61.

BERKLEY — Committing over five decades of one’s time to helping others without ever taking a break seems like a remarkable achievement by almost any standard, but for Fred Bernstein, it’s nothing special.

Bernstein, 83, of Farmington Hills was recently honored by the Berkley Rotary Club for boasting perfect attendance for the past 56 years. He has never missed a meeting since first joining the club in January 1956.

“It’s not compulsory to attend every meeting, but it was never really a big deal for me,” said Bernstein, a retired podiatrist whose former office was located on 12 Mile Road, right down the street from where the Berkley club meets. “I felt like I was just going out to lunch every Monday and spending time with some friends.”

Rotary International — a humanitarian service organization founded in 1905 and sporting the motto “Service above self” — allows its members to make up meetings at any club location in the world if they happen to miss one. As an avid traveler, Bernstein has attended Rotary Club meetings in places as far from home as Norway, Israel, England, Mexico and Hawaii. No matter where he and his wife of 57 years, Sandra, travel across the globe, a weekly meeting with the local Rotary Club is always on their itinerary.

“It’s been such a wonderful experience being part of this organization,” Bernstein said. “I’ve met a lot of great people and been to a lot of amazing places.”

Bernstein is modest when asked about the key to achieving perfect attendance for so many years. “I’ve been very blessed with good health,” he said, “so that has definitely helped me keep this going.”

But his strong physical condition is not just a happy coincidence. Even at 83, Bernstein works out six days a week, driving himself to the Beverly Hills Club fitness center to take part in swimming, tennis, weight training and cardiovascular exercise.

Bernstein is proud of the work that he has done with Berkley Rotary over the years and all the friendships that he has made. He is especially supportive of the organization’s youth exchange and student scholarship programs.

He and his wife hosted an exchange student from Norway about 25 years ago, and what began as part of his club service blossomed into a lifelong relationship. Years later, the Bernsteins traveled to Norway to attend the girl’s wedding, and since that time, she and her family have stayed with the Bernsteins when they’ve come to the U.S. to visit. “We’re like part of her family at this point,” Bernstein said. “It’s been really nice.”

Bernstein’s unwavering commitment has made other Rotarians take notice. Darlene Glogower, president of the Berkley Rotary Club, often marvels at his high energy level and his dedication to public service. She noted that Bernstein is always the top ticket seller for the 20-member club’s annual pancake breakfast, its biggest fundraiser.

“Fred is just a fabulous person and a wonderful asset to the club,” she said. “If he goes to a meeting in a different country, he always brings back a little flag as proof that he was there. Some of the other club members have been around for almost as long as him, but none of them have perfect attendance. He’s a very involved and devoted member.”

Cheryl Rogers, superintendent of Clawson Public Schools, met Bernstein a few weeks ago when he sat in on a meeting at the Clawson Rotary Club. She was amazed after learning of Bernstein’s 56-year perfect attendance, and she was equally impressed by his stories of his travels all over the world.

“When you think about how much of our lives these days is experienced in front of a computer, to me, it’s very noble that he’s reached out to so many people and developed all these great personal relationships,” Rogers said. “I feel like establishing those kinds of friendships in this day and age is really monumental.”

For Bernstein, though, the impetus for all those great relationships and experiences was not his own initiative, but the Rotary Club itself. He gives all the credit to the organization for getting him hooked on public service and for all the work that it has done to help improve communities worldwide.

He also pointed out that the Berkley club is always seeking new members. The group meets every Monday from 12:15-1:30 p.m. at the Berkley First United Methodist Church, 2820 W. 12 Mile Road, and all are welcome to attend.

“This is an international organization that does so many wonderful things,” he said. “We’re always looking for young blood to keep it going, and I think we’ve done pretty well for ourselves. A lot of civic organizations have gone under in recent years, but the Rotary Club is one of the few that has managed to survive.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jeremy Selweski at jSelweski@candgnews.com or at (586)218-5004.