Michael BEREZOWSKI

BEREZOWSKI, Michael P. Eng
September 2, 1937 - December 10, 2012
Mike Berezowski passed away suddenly at his Calgary home on the morning of December 10, 2012 at the age of 75 years. Mike was born on September 2, 1937 on the farm near Sheho, SK to Peter and Mary (nee Struss). He was the oldest of seven children - Eunice Petrow, Ed (Gloria), Laudie (Linda), Angie (Gordon) Remus, Sylvia and Marlene (Billy) Hoffman. He attended school in both Sheho and Foam Lake. Mike worked and borrowed money to fund his university education, graduating from the College of Engineering at the University of SK in 1962. He married Jessie Velma Hunt on April 28, 1962. A civil engineer, he began his career in BC. A car ride in 1965 with Dr. Hardy, led him joining R.M. Hardy and Associates in Edmonton. The company went through various name changes and mergers; when Mike retired in 2007 he was working for AMEC. He moved to Calgary in 1973 and later spent five years (1983-1988) in Saskatoon before a final move back to Calgary. During the last two years, Mike also did some part-time consulting work for Mobile Augers & Research Ltd. During his long career he worked on many major construction projects, including oil sands sites in Fort McMurray and other jobs throughout Canada and the U.S. In the later years of his career, his outgoing personality and conversational skills allowed him to specialize in business development, cultivating new clients for his employer. Mike coached his sons in both hockey and baseball and was the president of the Kilkenny Community Association in Edmonton. After moving to Calgary, he volunteered with the newly formed Mac's AAA Midget Hockey Tournament. An athlete himself, he surprised younger engineers by playing softball well past the age of 40. He also curled for many years in various leagues, enjoyed downhill skiing and was an avid golfer throughout his adult life. In the late 1970s he also umpired many organized youth baseball games. At home he loved watching sports on television. In the pre-remote control era, he wore out at least one manual channel dial. He enjoyed Stage West performances and attending Calgary Folk Club shows. Mike loved co- hosting, with Jessie, barbecues for relatives and friends at his Calgary home and their cabin at Lake Windermere. The Christmas Season included, with Jessie's help, annual parties for their Calgary friends. With friends and relatives, he loved to talk about the issues of the day. He always had an opinion and enjoyed listening to others' viewpoints. At home, he was meticulous about his diagonally cut lawn and well tended garden. In August of 2012, Mike and Jessie celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with 80 friends and relatives in Calgary. While his sons were growing up, Mike drove long miles so the family could visit places from Saskatchewan to Victoria to California. Mike and Jessie expanded their horizons, taking trips to Europe, the Panama Canal and Mexico. Some of those trips were taken with two of Mike's siblings, Ed and Angie and their spouses. They also traveled internationally with Jim and Diane Beck, Ed and Josie Demchuk and Elliott and Geri Urquhart. Mike is survived by his wife Jessie; son David (Heather) of Calgary; Robert (Marrion) and their two children Alexis and Patricia, all of Regina, SK; and Richard (Paula) and their four children, Andrew of Calgary, Evan, Brett and Chantal of Rosetown, SK. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY'S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 - 14 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 (Telephone 403-264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca) or to a charity of your choice in Mike's name. In living memory of Michael Berezowski, a tree will be planted at Big Hill Springs Park, Cochrane.