Obituary - BERCU PEISICH

Submitted by the family

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Bercu Peisich on Aug. 22, 2024, at the age of 87. Born on Dec. 12, 1936, in Lasi, Romania, Bercu faced unimaginable hardships during his youth, enduring Nazi persecution and the harrowing realities of pogroms and life in the ghetto. The loss of dozens of family members during that dark time left an indelible mark on his life and shaped his character.

Bercu's journey took him to Brazil, where he spent seven transformative years that he cherished deeply. He later moved to Israel, where he proudly served in the Israeli Defense Forces before fate brought him to the love of his life, Alicia Gabay. Bercu and Alicia married in March 1972.

He, along with his single younger brother, Filip, settled in Toronto, Canada where Bercu's beloved wife had moved to several years prior from Spain. Bercu and Filip shared the strongest of sibling bonds. They were in the IDF together, worked together and lived together until Filip's dementia no longer made it possible to care for him at home. A painful and reluctant decision was made to have him cared for in a nursing home. Bercu visited his brother regularly providing home cooked meals, comfort and advocating for him until Filip's passing in August 2023.

In Toronto, Bercu and Alicia built a loving home, welcoming two children, Joseph and Betty Bella. They were his pride and joy. He always made time to play with them, enjoy outings with them and help with schoolwork. Every year during summer break, Bercu would take his family on vacation to the gulf coast of Florida where they would cherish beach time and exploration of the surrounding area. It was a gift whose legacy would live on in his daughter Betty Bella who recently resettled with her own family in the sunshine state.

Bercu dedicated over three decades of his career as a technical engineer in radio and television at the Royal York Hotel, where his gentle nature and work ethic left a lasting impression with friends and colleagues.

His greatest passion was his family, who he adored unconditionally. As a devoted husband and father, Bercu was a quiet and selfless man, always putting his family's needs before his own. He instilled in them the values of resilience, kindness, and a legacy of survival, reminding them that strength lies in love and perseverance.

An avid sports enthusiast, he particularly loved soccer, having played in a Romanian league during his youth. Some of his favorite hobbies included watching sports on television with his son Joseph. He would later enjoy watching sports and dialoguing with his grandson Nathan about his soccer past and their shared admiration for the game.

 Bercu was a very affectionate and wonderful grandfather to his four grandchildren: Alissa, Sarah, Nathan and Isabella. It filled his heart with great joy to be in their presence and watch them grow. He took enormous pride in this role and was a very hands-on grandfather. He also enjoyed sharing his childhood stories with his son-in-law Michael who Bercu was very fond of.

In his final years, Bercu faced devastating health challenges, including peripheral artery disease and heart disease but was comforted by the presence of his family. Despite his own declining health, he took on the role of full-time caretaker for his ailing wife Alicia. When the burden became too troublesome, his daughter Betty Bella brought him and Alicia to Florida to be able to assist both of them as much as possible. She brought them to an assisted living facility to help manage daily life and all of its increasing complexities.

The time at assisted living was brief and met with various emergency hospital admissions as Bercu's condition became excruciatingly painful and exponentially difficult to manage. During his hospital stays, Bercu expressed his immeasurable love for his wife and desire to come home to her as soon as he could. Bercu passed away at Brookdale Assisted Living in Altamonte Springs, Florida. His final moments were surrounded by his loving wife, his daughter Betty Bella and his granddaughter Isabella who stayed by his bedside until his last breath.

Bercu Peisich will be remembered for his quiet strength, selflessness, and the profound love he had for his family. He leaves behind a legacy of resilience and devotion that will continue to inspire all who knew him. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Chabad of North Orlando in his memory.

Service entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 933 Lee Road, Suite 101, Orlando, Florida 407-599-1180.