Louis Harold Bernstein

February 16, 1935 – February 26, 2024

Louis Harold Bernstein, 89, passed away peacefully in Los Angeles on February 26, 2024, ten days after his 89th birthday, with his son and daughter by his side, due medical complications from a recent illness. He loved life and lived it with passion and purpose.

Louis was born on February 16, 1935, in Chicago to Simon and Adele Bernstein. After moving to Los Angeles as a young boy with this parents and sister, Joy Bernstein Tanzman, he eventually attended Hamilton high school, graduating in 1955. He later graduated UCLA, majoring in Economics, and after, Loyola Law School where he received his J.D. degree.

Louis was a lawyer for over 40 years starting in the City Attorney’s Office before establishing his own private law practice; where he worked as a criminal defense attorney, including a period of time representing the then Los Angeles Raiders as well as trying several high-profile homicide cases. In addition to his private practice, Louis volunteered for decades at the Los Angeles Free Clinic donating his time for legal services. Eventually, when he had retired from practicing law, he continued his volunteering there by welcoming people at the front desk.

HIs life consisted of countless hobbies, and he was passionate about many things. Over the years, he loved his weekly poker and bridge nights, Sunday morning bowling league at Corbin Bowl, coaching Little League in Beverly Hills, weekly tennis matches, nights out at the opera, Philharmonic and plays, attending his beloved Dodgers and Rams games and most of all watching his kids play sports and dance recitals. He loved art and museums, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, travel, and loved pretzels, Red Delicious apples, black licorice, and cheddar cheese and always appreciated a delicious meal. He performed in countless temple musicals for over a decade including Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, and Sweet Charity. His family never missed an opening night.

Louis was a true Renaissance man and loved acquiring knowledge on everything from politics to art and popular culture. He never stopped learning. He was an active member of The Plato Society of Los Angeles and former Los Angeles Brandeis Men’s Group President, member of American Contract Bridge League and greatly enjoyed his weekly Friday ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) lunches with his dear friends.

His greatest passion was his deep and profound love of opera. He had a vast knowledge and shared this throughout Los Angeles as a speaker on various opera topics for LA Opera Talk Speaker Series. He also performed in many supernumerary roles in the LA Opera including Falstaff and Romeo and Juliette. His love of performing did not stop there. In his later life, he became a background actor and eventually a member of the Screen Actors Guild after playing a judge in the movie, Daredevil.

Most of all, Louis deeply loved his family, his children, grandchildren, and his partner of 23 years. He loved his friends. Very simply, he loved life, and he lived it fully and with passion and purpose, with generosity and kindness, and always showed up with a warm smile and an infectious laugh. He will be remembered for the way he deeply loved and embraced life.

Louis will live on in the lives and memories of those he held dear: HIs daughter, Stacey Bernstein-Haas and son, Scott Bernstein, as well his son-in-law, Matthew Haas, daughter-in-law, Roya Bernstein, grandchildren Noah Haas, Amelia Haas and Anaya Bernstein, and his partner for the past 23 years, Joan Yeoman, as well as his many other close friends and family members. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome in his honor to The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the LA Opera.