Mrs. Jacqueline Joan Berkman

Jacqueline Joan Seif Berkman, affectionately known as Jackie, died at her home in Alexandria, VA on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Jackie was born on February 22, 1943, in Baltimore, MD. She was the first of three children born to Milton Seif and Gertrude Eisenkraft Seif. Jackie cared deeply about her family and friends, her students, animals, the environment, and justice for all. She was a very principled and courageous woman. Jackie grew up in Baltimore with her brothers, Tom and Steve. As a child, she was influenced by her parents’ Union and political activities, which focused on a wide range of social and economic causes, including the civil rights movement, the labor movement, and rights for the unemployed. As a teenager, Jackie participated in protests against segregation, including spending a night in jail after a lunch counter sit-in. These were foundational experiences in her life, which sustained her commitment to racial justice, her anti-war sentiment, and justice for all living creatures throughout her lifetime. Jackie left home at 17years old to attend the University of Maryland. While at UMD, she helped organize the Committee of Racial Equity (CORE), organized and continued to participate in demonstrations, picket lines, and lunch counter sit-ins for civil rights. While at the University of Maryland, Jackie met her future husband, Kenneth Berkman. They were married in a winter storm by candlelight on December 30, 1962, in Milburn, NJ. To this union were born two children, Jennifer Ruth and Katherine Rachel. Jackie was a devoted mother and obtained much joy from her children, nieces and nephews. Jackie was an avid believer in education and started an elementary school (Partrigeberry) in 1970 after being disappointed in the public school system. Throughout Jenny and Kate’s early childhood, Jackie volunteered and taught at their school, Burgundy Farm Country Day School. In 1980, Jackie graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. Although she earned a science degree, she found her calling teaching adult English as a Second Language (ESL). In addition, to her family and career, Jackie enjoyed close friends with whom she shared her love of the outdoors, gardening, and quilting. Jackie leaves to celebrate her life: her husband, Kenneth Berkman; two daughters, Jenny Parker (James) and Kate Spence (David); two brothers, Tom Seif and Steve Seif (Beverly); her brother in law, Steve (Ellen); her grandchildren, Phoebe, Cecily, Zachary, Jacob, Ebon, and James; her great grandchildren Jonah, Julian, Jaylin, and Zoe; her nieces and nephews Alix (Dan), Dan (Lauren), Diana (Ethan), Nancy, Linda, and Phyllis; and her great nieces, Stevie and Jasmine, and great nephew, Nathan. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her nephew Bob Berkman.

Mrs. Jacqueline Joan Berkman

February 22, 1943 - April 26, 2023

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