Morris P. Berke, a retired vending machine company owner who was active in the state Democratic Party, died of cancer yesterday at Marriott's Brighton Gardens of Pikesville. He was 86 and lived in Owings Mills.
The owner of the Calvert Vending Co., a business in the 1000 block of W. Baltimore St. that supplied cigarette and candy machines, he was among a group of World War II ex-servicemen who organized the G.I. Veterans Taxicab Association in the 2300 block of Greenmount Ave. Family members said he helped secure the necessary permits from the Public Service Commission and the Packard vehicles the cab fleet used.
He also owned Calvert Publishing, a music business that owned the rights to the 1953 song "Are You Looking for a Sweetheart?" recorded by vocalist Kitty Kallen as well as the Orioles, the Crickets and the Runarounds.
Born in Baltimore, he was raised in the 600 block of W. Lexington St., where his father had a meat market at which Mr. Berke worked as a young man. He was a 1934 graduate of City College.
During World War II, he served in the Army and was stationed in England, France and Germany as a hospital aide. He attained the rank of sergeant.
Board chairman of the United Democrats' former 2nd District, he was active in one of the state's largest political clubs, based in Northwest Baltimore. He was appointed a justice of the peace by Govs. J. Millard Tawes and Spiro T. Agnew.
"He was an energetic man, always on the go, who knew everybody wherever he went," said his nephew Elliot S. Berke of Washington. "He never went into a restaurant - he ate out most nights in Little Italy or at Tio Pepe's - that he wasn't talking to people. He was a real man about town. He was Baltimore to the core."
Mr. Berke played golf at local courses.
Services will be held at noon Wednesday at Sol Levinson and Bros., 8900 Reisterstown Road.
He is survived by his brother, Dr. Joseph Berke of Orlando, Fla.; and another nephew, Joel N. Berke of Pasadena, Calif. His companion of more than 20 years, Judy Verbin, died in 1994.