Norman Berson

Norman Berson
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 187th district
In office
1969–1982
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byPaul Semmel
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the Philadelphia County district
In office
1967–1968
Personal details
Born(1926-11-19)November 19, 1926[1]
New York City, New York
DiedDecember 7, 2019(2019-12-07) (aged 93)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PartyDemocratic

Norman S. Berson (November 19, 1926 – December 7, 2019) was a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1967 to 1982.[2]

Formative years

Born in New York City, New York on November 19, 1926, Berson graduated from the George School in 1946,[3] before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University in 1950 and his Bachelor of Law (L.L.B) from Temple's Law School in 1953. A member of the United States Army during World War II, he served from 1945 to 1946.[3]

Professionally, he was then employed as an attorney.[3] He was also co-founder in the 1960's of Central Philadelphia Reform Democrats, an organization of liberal activists who organized to challenge Philadelphia's political establishment of the time.[4]: 217–218 

Political career

A Democrat, Norman S. Berson was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1966, serving a total of eight consecutive terms. Appointed to the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing in 1979, he served until 1982. He was not a candidate for reelection to the House in 1982.[3]

In 1977, Berson introduced a bill to reduce the penalty for marijuana possession.[5]

Later professional life

Berson served "of counsel" with Fineman Krekstein & Harris PC and was also a director for RCM Technologies, Inc.[3]

Death

Berson died of Parkinson's disease on December 7, 2019, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at age 93.[6]

Norman S. Berson is survived by two children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Pennsylvania. Dept. of General Services; Pennsylvania. Bureau of Publications; Pennsylvania. Dept. of Property and Supplies (1971). The Pennsylvania Manual. Vol. 100. Department of General Services. ISSN 0275-8814. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
  2. ↑ Cox, Harold. "House Members B". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Norman S. Berson". archives.house.state.pa.us. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  4. ↑ Kromer, John (2020). Philadelphia battlefields: disruptive campaigns and upset elections in a changing city. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1-4399-1971-2.
  5. ↑ Stein, Anne Marie. "Decriminalization of Marijuana Likely in Future." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Daily Pennsylvanian, April 13, 1977.
  6. ↑ "Norman Berson, 93, longtime state representative and champion of liberal cause". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  7. ↑ "Norman Berson Obituary (2009) - Newark, NJ - The Star-Ledger". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
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