Bernard Manuel Hyatt

Bernard Manuel Hyatt, son of the late Samuel and Yetta (Sacks) Hyatt, passed away peacefully, on March 27, 2023, at the age of 99, after a short illness. Born in 1923 and raised in Annapolis, Maryland, Bernard earned his BA in Political Science from the University of Maryland, attended the University of Chicago for graduate school, and earned his LLB from Harvard University Law School. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army airborne troops in Europe, where he amassed several stories about his experiences that he shared regularly with energy and verve. He also wrote for the U.S. military newspaper, Stars and Stripes.

After completing his law degree, he initially worked in Washington, DC as a government attorney. In 1952, his father-in-law, Alexander Brin, then the publisher of The Jewish Advocate, invited him to join the staff of the newspaper where he was to spend the next 51 years, serving as the Assistant Editor, Managing Editor, and eventually, as owner, editor, and publisher. During those years he published over 6,000 editorials and hundreds of feature stories and interviews, which earned him national recognition. Under his leadership, The Jewish Advocate championed such causes as the Civil Rights Movement, opposition to the Vietnam War, and support for Soviet Jewry. He was also a staunch advocate for the State of Israel. He was on the board of Hebrew College and served as an Honorary Trustee for Life.

He was married to Barbara Brin for 68 years; she predeceased him. He was also predeceased by his three siblings, Joseph Hyatt, Tillie Singer, and Bessye Shulman. For several years, he has served as our family historian, regaling us with accounts of his youth and sharing tales about colorful members of our extended family. He had a passion for reading, travel, the arts and fine clothing and took pride in being a dapper dresser. Until just a few days before his death, he was remarkably alert, cognitively aware and engaged with the world as he had been for his entire life.

He is survived by his three children, Susan (Angela Herrmann), Judith (Fred Goldstein) and Josh (Cynthia Post); six grandchildren, Ethan, Abraham, Noah, Amelia, Eve, and Luca; and many nieces and nephews.

A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, March 29, at 1:00 p.m. at Beth Israel Memorial Park, 190 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453 ~ livestream viewing will be available using the following link: www.tinyurl.com/BernardHyatt ~ Shiva will be observed from 4:00-8:00 on Wednesday at the home of Josh Hyatt and Cynthia Post. We ask that guests at the shiva be vaccinated and boosted.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West St., Amherst, MA 01002 or at this link: https://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/