Peter William Berenbak of Livingston died of complications from Parkinson’s Disease on January 22 in Livingston. He was a few months shy of his 80th birthday.
Before retiring from Lexis Nexis Martindale-Hubble in 2015, he spent almost 20 years as a law firm marketing specialist. Prior to working with legal publications, he worked as a teacher as well as having a long career in media. He served in multiple roles for various radio and newspaper companies, most notably the Daily Record in Morristown. He worked as a reporter, sales executive, and contributing writer. It was there that he met his wife, Susan, to whom he was married for nearly 50 years.
Born in Brooklyn in 1944, Mr, Berenbak settled in New Jersey, graduating from Bayley Ellard High School and receiving a bachelor’s degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
Mr. Berenbak served as a First Lieutenant in the Army during the Vietnam War. After graduating Officer Candidate School in 1967, he joined the Army’s Civil Affairs company, eventually serving as Commander of the 13th CivilAffairs Platoon, 41st CivilAffairs Company, at Bon Son, Bihn Dinh Provence in Vietnam. While in Vietnam during the fall of 1968, Mr. Berenbak was decorated with a Bronze Star. It was also in Vietnam that he was exposed to Agent Orange, an encounter that would later lead to the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. He also participated with Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
He is survived by his wife, Susan, two children, Adam and Abby, and two brothers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
