David was born in New York City, grew up in Manhattan, and, at 21, graduated cum laude from Yale University. Six months later, in January 1941, he volunteered to join the U.S. Army. Starting as a private, he ended his army career as a major of artillery in Patton's Fifth Army, earning a bronze star with an oak leaf cluster for his actions. In 1947, he married Ruth Jesephson and they had four children: Ann, Jeffrey, Wendy, and Andrew. After 46 years, they were divorced. David then married Susan Hopmans and they established a home in Santa Barbara as well as in the Santa Ynez valley. Here he created facilities for and maintained a large collection of the art he felt was so significant.
David's two great interests were building shopping centers -- which he did with enthusiasm and success both on the East Coast and in California -- and collecting art. The art dealer to his heart was of a technological nature. The title of one of the several major shows he sponsored, PULSE (People Using Light, Sound, and Energy), is a clue to the sort of unique work he felt was the art pertinent to our time. It was art that utilized modern science and technology and did something other than hang on a wall or stand on a pedestal. And he felt that such art should be shown in public places, not just in museums and galleries.
Content used with generous permission from the David Bermant Foundation
