Obituaries

Augustus Bart Berger, Jr. 1924 - 2013

Wednesday August 21, 2013 - 01:14:00 PM

Augustus Bart Berger, Jr., passed away on August 7th, 2013, in Berkeley, California, at the age of 89. He was known throughout his church parish as extremely kind, generous, and caring. He was active and alert and continued his charity work until the end. 

Bart was born on July 12th, 1924, in Denver, Colorado. His family moved to a small farm on Vancouver Island near Victoria, British Columbia, in 1934 to help relieve the stresses of the depression. They moved to Berkeley in 1939 after his father’s death, and Bart attended Berkeley High School. 

Upon graduation in 1942 at age 17, he enlisted in the Army Corps (Air Force). He was assigned to the 15th Air Division and stationed in North Italy, where he flew over 50 missions during World War II as a P-38 pilot and reconnaissance photographer. He earned two Silver Stars. 

After the war, Bart graduated from U.C. Berkeley as a civil engineer. Bart worked for the California State Highway Department for 28 years until his retirement in 1977. Bart was initially a surveyor and later a designer in several departments. He helped lay out several of the Bay Area’s freeways. 

Bart married June Elizabeth Fountain on February 3rd, 1951, in Berkeley. He is survived by his sister Margaret Wallace of San Francisco, 4 children [Bart (Marcia) of San Jose, Tom (Marianne) of Albany, Ralph (Eileen) of Orinda, and Joan (John Coffey) of Colma], 9 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. 

Bart loved the outdoors. His family fondly remembers the many summer camping trips they enjoyed together, and many visits to Bart’s childhood retreat at Estabrook Ranch, Colorado. 

Bart was an excellent photographer. He was an early member of the Berkeley Camera Club and remained active in the club for many years. He met his wife, June, at the Berkeley Camera Club. He enjoyed taking pictures of landscapes and family members, and he printed and developed his own photographs. 

Bart was an avid gardener, and enjoyed building projects such as his greenhouse and home-built solar cooker and water heater. 

Bart was very active in his church. He participated in several community-service activities, including providing food and transportation to those who needed it. He was known for devotion to his family, neighbors and friends, and for countless good works for the disabled and less fortunate. 

Most of all, Bart is remembered by his family as a loving, caring father who taught his children well through his many examples of kindness and consideration. 

There will be a memorial mass for Bart at Saint Mary Magdalen Church in Berkeley at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 30th, followed by a reception at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Saint Mary Magdalen Church or the charity of your choice.