Getting to Know our Neighbors: Bernie Aserkoff

Continuing our series, ‘Getting to Know our Neighbors’, we’d like to introduce Bernie Aserkoff, who, along with his wife, Janet, have been residents of the Esplanade for 19 years. They made the decision to move here from the Charles River Park (right across the river) where they had lived for 32 years. Their decision was precipitated by the fact that the townhouses where they lived were about to undergo major renovations. Janet and Bernie had moved to Boston originally for Bernie to complete his GI (Gastro Intestinal) Fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Subsequently he assumed his position as gastroenterologist at MGH and they decided to stay at Charles River Park. 

Their children, Karen, 51, married with 3 boys living in New York City and David 50, married, with 13 year old twins living in London both attended Buckingham, Browne and Nichols. Janet, an attorney, worked for a law firm with offices in Charles River Park. Bernie said that they had only one request of Karen and David--- that, when they ‘settled down’, “they had to live in a non-stop flight from Boston”. Fortunately, London and New York meet that prerequisite!

Once they decided to move, Bernie and Janet had 3 requirements for their new home: (1) walking distance from MGH; (2) a full service building; and (3) a place with a view. “The Esplanade met all three and the decision was easy!” They have loved being here ever since. Bernie says that they were both suburban kids (Bernie in Silver Springs, MD and Janet in Melrose Park, PA) but have loved city life. Here they appreciate all that urban life has to offer and the special gift of the River and its surroundings. As Bernie notes, “Being near and seeing the water offers a calmness like nothing else.” For a daily drama, he also enjoys watching the Canada Geese waddle across Cambridge Parkway stopping all the traffic for a few minutes.

Since Bernie retired 5 ½ years ago and Janet 2 years ago, they have enjoyed doing things together and keeping busy!  Before Covid, they exercised in the gym every morning and now they daily walk up and down the stairs (Bernie does “15 flights 4 times every day; count them--- that’s 60 flights daily”!) and do the New York Times 6 minute workout (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/18/well/move/in-6-minutes-you-can-be-done-with-your-workout.html ) Additionally, they walk 2 miles most days. I have to admit that I felt like a slug hearing this! Bernie had biked a for few years after retirement but stopped short after a bicyclist was hit and killed by a truck at the intersection in front of the Museum of Science. Bernie and Janet had arrived at the scene shortly after it happened and Bernie decided then and there to stop bicycling in the city. There is a Ghost Bike at the scene placed in memory of the victim, one of many around the city.

In addition, Bernie, as one of the benefits of Harvard appointments, audits classes at Harvard and has found them to be challenging, sometimes amusing and always requiring discipline. This semester’s course, “Race in a Polarized America”, has been wonderful, with great guests and discussions. For 35 years, he and Janet have had a house on a small pond on Cape Cod. They go there every week from Wednesday to Sunday and it provides a wonderful get-away with biking, kayaking, and gardening. Their grandchildren and children visit every summer and it’s a wonderful family gathering place. Another of Bernie’s interests is the Esplanade Men’s Book Club. “It’s been the same 9 men that have met for the last several years. It’s a lovely time, with stimulating and warm discussions, and bright spot in my life. The last book, Midnight Library, for example, stimulated a wonderful discussion of the choices that we all make in our lives.”

Another of Bernie’s activities is as a Trustee on the BOT. He remembers that 5 ½ years ago John Yee asked him if he would fill another Trustee’s tenure who had moved out of the Esplanade. Bernie who has “since High School, loved organizations and committee work”, said yes. When I asked him why he liked committee work, he answered that he appreciated that generally “they do good work and have a democratic process”. He also has appreciated the opportunity to represent the owners on the BOT. He feels that “everyone cares about the building and takes the responsibility seriously”, although, he added, “there are different views of that responsibility.” 

BOT meetings generally are clear, open, non-confrontational, and move things forward. There’s an “enormous regard for the process, the people, Maureen and Ed, and an understanding of the relationship between the management and the BOT.  There’s also an understanding of the goal to maintain “what is special in the Esplanade—the calm, the privacy, the comfort.” But there are inevitably changes that “we have to prepare for. We will, for example, have to consider electrical stations for vehicles. How that improvement will be managed will be a challenge. But we can do it working together.”

One of the things that Bernie is most looking forward to is resuming traveling and he has  already booked rooms at The Boca Raton Resort that his family has gone to for many Christmas holidays. He and Janet will be going to NYC to be with their daughter and her family for Passover and will also visit New York for a week in May. They plan several trips to London this coming year to see their son and his family. Their hope also is to resume some international travel.

You will see Bernie in the hall, climbing the stairs, or taking his walks with Janet along the River. He will be smiling and enjoying whatever he’s doing. Say ‘Hi’ to him!