Bertram "Bert" Alexander Obituary (1936 - 2022)

Bertram "Bert" Alexander, born August 1 , 1936 in Brooklyn NY passed away peacefully in Saint Louis Park, MN on Feb 18, 2022 Born and raised by a loving family in Brooklyn he was a true New York character thru and thru. He loved life, his family, in fact he loved all people - for him the glass was always half full and he wanted those around him to share in that belief. With a positive, upbeat attitude, a quick wit and a larger than life passionate personality he persevered through life. He worked hard and played hard - touched many lives and made many good friends. His daughter Susan was the apple of his eye and the feeling was mutual. He could/would talk and joke with anyone and everyone - he was extremely funny and was a great storyteller. His passions in life were hustling business, playing the ponies, riding them as well (he was a skilled equestrian) and simply making people smile. He was also a fabulous host and loved entertaining. He was a terrific salesman, and spent much of his career selling home improvements (he was one of the original Tin Men), mortgages, meat and seafood amongst other things. He was an Army Veteran, business owner, sales manager, entrepreneur and a talented motivator. He loved the racetrack and spent untold hours at the NY tracks and tracks around the the county. In his 40’s he relocated to Minnesota where he lived out his lifelong dream - he bought a horse farm in Maple Plain where he resided, raised, bred, boarded and rode horses. He ran horses at Canterbury Downs Racetrack in Shakopee - being around his horses and watching them race was his joy in life. The world was a brighter place with Bert in it, as he never failed to try to make someone’s day - whether thru a joke, a compliment, giving a bigger than expected tip or just simply making small talk. It made him feel good to make others feel good. Bert is preceded in death by his loving parents Bessie and Samuel Alexander and his sister Yvette (Marty) Selig. Bert is eternally loved, mourned and remembered by his daughter Susan (Todd) Gurstel, his son Jeffrey Alexander, his granddaughters Isabella (Guy) Ben-Hanan, Talia Gurstel, his step-grandson Jacob Fryer, his great granddaughter Esti Ben-Hanan and his sister Andrea (Gerard) Haft. Bert also leaves behind many nieces, nephews (most especially Bruce & Elaine Selig who he was especially close to) cousins, and friends all of whom he loved dearly. Our family is deeply grateful to the staffs at Meadow Ridge Senior Living, Sholom Home Hospice, Abbott and North Memorial Hospitals, for his caretaker Mark Frankel and friends who visited and phoned - each of whom made Berts last years happy and comfortable. Funeral services will take place graveside at Woodbridge, New Jersey, Tuesday at 2pm EST Shiva: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 via zoom from Arizona 5:30pm MST, contact sgurstel@aol.com Donations can be made to: ReRun Inc. a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide rehab, retraining and rehoming Thoroughbreds after their racing & breeding careers have ended.