Victor Peter Bert Jr., of East Northport, partner at engineering firm, dies at 79

To many, Victor Peter Bert Jr. was known for his endless generosity, quiet strength and intelligent mind. To those closest to him, Bert was a steadfast family man and someone who made a warm connection with anyone he came in contact with, his family said.

"He was kind of a Renaissance man on Long Island in many ways," said Bert's brother-in-law, Paul Arfin, of Great Neck. "He came from humble beginnings and was very likable."

The East Northport resident died on Oct. 29 from congestive heart failure at the age of 79.

Victor Peter Bert Jr. was born on July 8, 1946, in Astoria. His family soon moved to Mineola, where Bert would graduate from Chaminade High School in 1964. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College in 1968 and a master's degree in the same field from New York University in 1970. After graduation, Bert worked for Grumman until landing at Nelson + Pope LLC in 1972 as a junior partner, working his way up to chief executive and partner.

“Victor Bert was one of a kind — a brilliant engineer, creative thinker and diverse conversationalist, with a great sense of humor. These qualities, along with wit and charm, made him a great mentor, and I loved being with him as a colleague on projects, partner in business and friend in social settings," said Charles J. Voorhis, principal at Nelson Pope Voorhis, which is affiliated with Nelson + Pope. 

Bert met his wife, Michaelyn, in 1969 at a local pub. They were married on Jan. 28, 1973, and raised two daughters, Jessica and Lindsay. The family moved to Huntington Station for four years and then lived in Dix Hills for 46 years. Bert and his wife later moved to the Seasons at Elwood in East Northport in 2020.

"Victor was brilliant, confident, loyal, nonjudgmental and very creative," said Michaelyn Bert. "He was a wonderful husband and grandfather whose legacy is being an honest, hardworking man who loved his family."

Bert retired from a nearly 50-year career at Nelson + Pope in 2023. His wife said he nurtured a lot of people.

"He wanted to give the younger engineers the opportunity to grow, so he gave up his own shares for them to have a part of the company," she said.

Thomas C. Dixon, senior partner of Nelson + Pope, said Bert was a mentor to him and countless other engineers.

“Victor’s creativity, intelligence and mastery in civil and site engineering have left a lasting imprint on the development of Long Island," he said. 

According to his family, Bert loved boating, playing golf, reading and doing the New York Times crossword puzzle. He also enjoyed art, listening to jazz and traveling, especially to his vacation home in Naples, Florida.

Bert's daughter, Lindsay Bert-Driscoll, said he was "the most amazing father who was always there."

"He was a quiet man, but his presence was known when he walked into a room. He would sum up everything someone said with a few words, but they were very powerful and had a lot of meaning," said Bert-Driscoll, of Huntington. "I kept my maiden name because of him, so he could always be a part of me."

Bert's son-in-law, Alex Oxenham, shared that he was impressed by his father-in-law's love of his community.

"He really did love Long Island, and it was inspiring to see how much he cared about where he lived," said Oxenham, of Garden City.

In addition to his wife and youngest daughter, Lindsay, Bert is survived by his elder daughter, Jessica, of Garden City, and five grandchildren. A private cremation was held, and donations were made to Long Island Cares Inc. – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank.