Robert J Bernstein

July 1, 1948 - April 10, 2022

Robert (Bob) Jay Bernstein of Stamford, age 73, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at Greenwich Hospital. Bob was a dedicated and loving husband and father, a talented lawyer and musician and a friend to everyone. He will be sorely missed by those he leaves behind. A gifted lawyer, Bob worked in copyright and trademark litigation and counseling since 1980, first as a partner for 22 years in the New York City intellectual property (IP) firm of Cowan Liebowitz & Latman (CL&L), and later in his own practice. Bob’s work spanned all aspects of complex litigation in a wide range of industries. Bob was very active within the IP law community. He served as President of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. (2000-02); held membership on the Board of Directors of the American Intellectual Property Law Committee and Chair of its Copyright Committee; was a member of the Copyright & Literary Property and the Entertainment Law Committees of the NYC Bar Association; co-authored over 130 New York Law Journal Copyright Law Columns; and lectured before professional associations, corporate law departments, law schools and the Practicing Law Institute. Bob’s love of all things music was undeniable. While attending Princeton University as an undergraduate, Bob traveled around the NYC area gigging as a member of a jazz band. Later, while attending law school at the University of Michigan, he took a brief hiatus from his law studies for a short stint at the Berkley School of Music. It was this passion for music and the arts that motivated Bob to work with creatives as a copyright and trademark lawyer. Bob continued playing music with groups around NYC through the Pandemic, including playing Alto Sax in the Copyright Society House Band “Crude, Humble & Obvious” (a cheeky reference to a SCOTUS decision). Bob loved to travel and had an uncanny interest in and passion for all people – an interest that was stoked while pursuing his undergraduate degree, which afforded him opportunities to spend extended time with host families in the mountains of South America and in a small village in West Africa. A sports enthusiast, Bob loved hiking, swimming, and playing tennis. He cherished his weekends at the Armonk Tennis Club, playing tennis and swimming laps under those majestic pine trees. He loved walking in the woods, reading on the beach, taking his family to the US Open and Knicks games at Madison Square Garden. When he wasn’t reading, playing music, or frequenting late night jazz clubs in NYC, he was sharing his wisdom through heartfelt poetry, often inspired by his love of life, music, and nature. Indeed, Bob was a family man. Happily married for 44 years to his loving wife Janet, Bob loved spending time with his family and friends. He always tried to help his loved ones if he could. His advice was thoughtful and his words seemed to carry a magic wisdom – always revealing the best path forward in a difficult situation. More recently, Bob loved spending time with his children and grandson at the lake house where he could be found swimming, reading the paper on the deck, telling funny stories with his witty sense of humor, taking one of his signature naps, or simply watching the sunset while patiently waiting for a cheeseburger to materialize. Bob was the son of the late Vera and Martin Bernstein of Great Neck, NY. He is survived by his brother Peter Bernstein and wife Joanne Avella (Saratoga Springs, NY); his wife Janet Bernstein (Stamford, CT); his daughter Rebecca Bernstein and son in law Randy Taylor (Gainseville, FL); his son Matthew Bernstein (Peekskill, NY); and daughter Laura Bernstein and son in law John Parssinen (Ossining, NY); and his grandson Ezra Parssinen. A visitation and celebration of Bob’s life will be held at Bosak Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Avenue, in Stamford, CT on Monday, April 18th from 4pm to 7pm followed by a prayer service. Donations in his memory may be made to The Peter Frampton Myositis Research Fund. To leave an expression of sympathy for the family online, please sign the family’s guestbook at www.bosakfuneralhome.com or www.facebook.com/bosakfuneralhome.