Herbert Lester Berk

September 29, 1938 - November 30, 2021

With heavy hearts, the Berk family regrets to announce the death of Dr. Herbert Lester Berk, age 83, of Austin, Tx, who passed away at his home on November 30, 2021. Herb Berk was born in New York City to Murray and Elsie Berk. He grew up with his sister, Renee and his brother David. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and that sparked his love of Science and Mathematics. He received his undergraduate from NYU and his masters and PHD from Princeton University. He met his wife Susan Rich in California. They were married in 1962. Their oldest son Joseph was born in 1967 and their youngest son Adam in 1970. Herb enjoyed fishing, camping, and hiking with the family. Herb Berk became a tenured professor at the University of Texas Physics Department in 1980. At his retirement in 2018, he became Professor Emeritus. He spent his career at UT investigating Plasma Physics with the goal of developing an energy source from Nuclear Fusion. In his long career he published over 200 professional papers in his field. Dr. Berk was also the chair of the American Physical Society Committee on International Freedom of Scientists. Herbert Berk is survived by his son Joseph Berk, his daughter-in-law Loretta Berk, his son Adam Berk, his daughter-in-law Pennie Berk, his grandchildren Hannah, Mason, Lauren & Emma. His sister Renee Rocklin and brother David Berk. The Herbert L. Berk Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Physics was established in 2018 to honor his long career as a scientist, teacher, and tireless advocate for diversity and excellence in Physics. In lieu of flowers and to honor Dr. Herbert Berk you may donate to the Herbert L. Berk Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Physics at https://cns.utexas.edu/professor-herbert-l-berk or make check out to the Herbert L. Berk Graduate Fellowship in Physics and mail to The University of Texas at Austin, P.O. Box 7458, Austin, TX 78713-7458.