Gary Allen Beren

Gary Allen Beren, aged eighty-nine, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and a long-time Toledoan passed away November 13, 2022.

Born in Detroit on May 8, 1933, to Joseph and Betty (Levine) Beren the family soon moved to Flint, Michigan. Following the death of his father in 1941, Gary, his mother and younger brother Charles, moved to Toledo where they lived with grandparents Sam and Ida Levine on Noble St. in north Toledo, and later to a home on Franklin Avenue.

Toledo was Gary's home for over 60 years. He was a 1951 graduate of Scott High School and attended both the University of Toledo and The Ohio State University before enlisting in the United States Army. After his military service Gary and his first wife returned to Toledo where he started a lengthy career in the scrap iron and metal business working with his uncles Abe and Harry Levine at A. Edelstein & Son. Gary went on to become the owner and president of the company. Joined by his son Joel in 1979, together they grew the company into one of the most successful scrap iron and metal businesses in Toledo. After nearly 80 years at the Lagrange Street location, the Berens' sold the company to OmniSource Corporation in 1998.

Toledo's Jewish Community was the primary beneficiary of Gary's volunteerism and philanthropy. He was a past-President of the Jewish Community Center, board member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo and chairman of the Federation's annual fundraising campaign. He was a decades long member of Congregation Etz Chayim, Temple Shomer Emunim and Congregation B'nai Israel.

In his heart Gary was a native Toledoan. There are few people who possessed the collective memory of people, places, and events in Toledo. His recall of names, family and business relationships, and important events was uncanny. He enjoyed sharing that knowledge with his son Joel and life-long friends, many who were members of the Raggedy A** Cadets, an informal fraternity of sons, grandsons and great-grandsons of immigrants who settled in north Toledo.

In 1975 Gary married native Toledoan Nancy (Steinberg) who was living in California. For 47 years Gary and Nancy enjoyed watching their family grow. They shared a large circle of friends, travelled, volunteered, collected eclectic artworks, and enjoyed life together. After the sale of Gary's company, he and Nancy moved to Ballen Isles in Palm Beach Gardens Florida. At Ballen Isles they enjoyed golf, bridge, dining, kibbitzing, volunteering and socializing with a large group of Toledoans, his brother and sister-in-law Charles and Kerry Beren, and many new friends. Visits by their children, grandchildren and later great-grandchildren were always happy times.

Gary is survived by wife, Nancy; brother, Charles (Kerry) Beren; son, Joel (Linda) Beren; daughter, Debbie (Stuart) Diamond; stepsons, Mark Fetterman and Jeffery (Sharon) Fetterman. Grandchildren, Sarah (Beren) and Jon Karelitz, Stephanie (Beren) and Dr. Jeremy Nathaniel, Joshua and Samantha (Schiff) Beren, Ilana (Diamond) and Michael Dahan, twins Rachelle and Danielle Fetterman. Great-grandchildren, Mia and Danielle Karelitz, Zoey and Asher Nathaniel; nephews, Jason (Melissa) and Peter (Rhonda) Beren; numerous cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be Thursday November 17 at 1:00 p.m. at Congregation B'nai Israel in Sylvania. Burial following at Beth Shalom Cemetery in Oregon, Ohio. Family and friends wishing to celebrate Gary's life are invited to visit the family at Congregation B'nai Israel the evening of November 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Contributions may be made in Gary's memory to Hillel at The University of Toledo (toledohillel.org) or to University of Toledo Hillel c/o The Jewish Federation of Greater Toledo (jewishtoledo.org).

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