After a long and distinguished career in advertising, Lawrence Bershon died March 7, 2011, in Palm Springs, Calif., of prostate cancer and diabetes complications.
The son of Miriam and Dr. Albert Bershon, Larry was born July 21, 1933, in Toledo, Ohio, and graduated from Thomas A. DeVilbies High School.
At Princeton, Larry, with Ben Zelenko, formed the International Relations Club and, with University backing, represented Princeton at the Model United Nations meeting at Cornell. A student participant at that meeting was Rita Abrams, later U.S. representative to the United Nations. Larry joined Elm Club and in senior year roomed at 22 Patton Hall with James Reid.
His career in advertising led to his position as manager of corporate advertising at ARCO, where he oversaw a number of PBS productions funded by the company, including the Emmy Award-winning series The Adams Chronicles, the 13-part Carl Sagan Cosmos series, and a program on the art of Willem de Kooning. Throughout his life Larry’s interests were theater, music, and literature. In retirement he volunteered in the Special Care Unit of Desert Hospital and advised on community projects.
The class expresses its sorrow and extends condolences to Larry’s former wife, Dorinne; his children, Eric and Nicole ’89; brother Burt; and four granddaughters.