Cover photo for Bernard Erlin's Obituary
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1970 Bernard 1970

Bernard Erlin

January 1, 1970 — January 1, 1970

Acme, Pennsylvania

Bernard Erlin, a longtime resident of Acme, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 1, 2022, in Ocala, Florida, after a short illness. Bernard was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1930 at the start of the Great Depression. It was a bad year for most but a good one for his beloved parents, Murray and Roschelle, and his older brother, Irving, who were blessed by the birth of twin boys Bernard and Marvin. Marvin would survive only three and one half years until spinal meningitis arrived. Living in the Bronx his first eight years, Bernard could see the tops of the George Washington Bridge tower structures. His most formative educational and life-learning years were spent in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he learned the joys of living and winning, and the dreariness and sadness of defeat. "You get what you deserve," he would say, and he got his share, which he later recognized as having helped him accept and accommodate the rigors of future living. He continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where his Russian-born parents stood proudly and beamed when he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology in 1956. Bernard was honored to have been president of his fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa. Fresh out of college, he was hired as a research petrographer by the Portland Cement Association, beginning his career in the cement, concrete, and aggregate industries in the Chicago area. Bernard established companies in Northbrook, Illinois; Ossining, New York; and Latrobe, Pennsylvania applying the techniques used in petrography to construction materials.  Bernard proudly served in the United States Army 1952–1961. He was honored to be: a fellow and honorary member of the American Concrete Institute (ACI); an honorary member of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committee C9; and one of the founders of The Society of Concrete Petrographers. He was pleased to have contributed to his profession through his over 120 published articles, his three books, and his active participation in the professional organizations with which he was associated. In addition to the ACI and ASTM, those include the Geological Society of America, the Highway Research Board (now the Transportation Research Board), and the Division of Engineering of the National Academy of Science. Bernard was especially honored to have been selected in 2007 by Concrete Construction Magazine as one of the ten most influential people in the cement and concrete industries.  Bernard Erlin was preceded in death by his parents Murray and Roschelle, and his brothers Marvin and Irving. He is survived by his beloved wife Barbara; daughter Dr. Carrie S. Erlin (Dr. Christopher Forbes); grandchildren Zachary Stailey, Jonathan Forbes, and Kelsey Forbes; nephew Bruce Erlin; and many cousins.  A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at a later date. To honor Bernard's many contributions to the concrete industry and ACI, we have set up a memorial scholarship with the ACI Foundation. A scholarship from the ACI Foundation will provide tuition assistance to deserving students studying in a concrete materials-related degree program.  To contribute to this restricted fund, you can give online at www.acifoundation.org/giving or mail a check made out to the ACI Foundation, referencing the Bernard Erlin Memorial Scholarship to:

ACI Foundation

38800 Country Club Dr.

Farmington Hills, MI 48331

www.FrederickFuneralHome.com

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