Jeffrey I. Bergen, who for many years served as chairman of the Association of Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Hartford, died Friday, March 3. He was 72.

A native of New York City who lived in West Hartford before moving to Bloomfield, Bergen, was active in many Jewish communal organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford for which, in 1998, he was named a lifetime director. In 2002, he received the agency’s President’s Award for his 30-plus years of service.

In June 1988, Bergen was elected chairman of the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Hartford, a post he held for more than 15 years. In that capacity he oversaw every issue concerning the operation of what was then the 22 cemeteries.

“One of the fundamental mitzvot is to care for the dead,” he said when he became chairman. “With the increased mobility of families in recent times, an important challenge facing the Hartford community is to ensure the dignity and respectful  maintenance of our forefathers’ gravesites.”

In the early 2000s he scaled back his day-to-day cemetery responsibilities in order to care for his ailing wife, Holly z”l.  Instead, he continued on in an advisory leadership position and became co-chair of the Associaiton with Henry Zachs.

“For the last fifteen years, I have had the honor of overseeing the Association under the guidance of Jeffrey and Henry,” the Association’s director, Lisa Vaeth, told the Ledger. “Jeffrey and I spoke and/or emailed almost weekly and he always made time to come up with solutions for various situations that were happening at one of the cemeteries. His level of commitment to the Association and the Hartford community is something I will never forget. Jeffrey was and will always be a hero in my book, a man who always did what was right – especially for those without voices now interred in our cemeteries. Going on without him is going to be challenging; however, we will continue the work that Jeffrey started and make him proud.”

Professionally, Bergen worked in the automotive and commercial tire industry, and served for many years as president of The Tyre Man.

Jeffrey Bergen is survived by his sons, Jon R. Bergen and his wife Elizabeth of New York, N.Y., and Peter T. Bergen of Lafayette Hill, Penn., and his two grandsons, Alex and Jack Bergen. He also leaves behind his partner Karen Campagna and her extended family.

He was predeceased by his wife, Holly (Talan) Bergen; his parents, Herman S. and Bertha (Dolgoruck) Bergen; and his in-laws, Hyman and Terry Talan.