Elizabeth H. Berger, 53

NEW YORK CITY – Elizabeth Berger died Aug. 5, after a 10-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was the daughter of Anita Berger and the late Ramon Berger. She was a graduate of Classical High School and Yale College, where she created her own college major, The Study of the City. Her thesis topic was Providence, at the time of the Cianci administration.

She returned to New York City, where she was born and raised, to work for Mayor Ed Koch as his assistant mayoral representative to the New York City Council. She went on to develop a practice in government relations, specializing in cultural and artistic organizations as well as working in the field of community affairs and strategic planning.

In 2007, she became president of the Alliance for Downtown New York and the Lower Manhattan Association. In her years there, she helped shape the re-imaging and building of Lower Manhattan after Sept. 11, 2001, and led an effort to assist Lower Manhattan businesses and residents after Superstorm Sandy.

She is survived by her husband Frederick, her children Phoebe and Julian, her mother Anita and her brother Gideon. A memorial service will be held Sept. 29 at Pace University, in New York City.