Sidney Bertram Obituary

Dr. Sidney Bertram
July 7, 1913 -July 30, 2012
Resident of Scotts Valley

Services will be in Soquel, California on Thursday, August 2, for Dr. Sidney Bertram who died peacefully at his Scotts Valley home on July 30, 2012 at the age of 99. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, he graduated from California Technical College in Los Angeles, and earned his PhD at Ohio State University. He moved to the Santa Cruz area in 2002. For more than 50 years, he had a remarkable career as an electronic engineer and a professor of electricity, relativity, and magnetism. While working for various Hi-Tech companies, Dr. Bertram was instrumental in developing PPI sonar during WW II, which enabled allied forces to penetrate the Sea of Japan. He was also the designer of automated photogrammetry, and helped to create the first guidance systems used on the modern day cruise missile. Dr. Bertram was published in his writing of a math book along with numerous technical articles. He served as a Professor of Electricity and Magnetism at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and enjoyed being a key element in stimulating the young minds of aspiring electrical engineers. His passion was relativity, and he was very proud of his published work entitled Classical Derivation of Relativity, along with his website which enabled colleagues and former students to follow his work. His family will always cherish the memory of his love for playing Scrabble, and his frequent writing of letters to the editor at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
He is survived by his three sons and daughters in-law, Irv and Luann Bertram of Seattle, Henry and Susan Bertram of Scotts Valley, CA.; Robert and Gayle Bertram of Sebastopol, CA, and his daughter and son in-law Dr. Suzanne Bertram and Logan Scott of Fort Collins, CO. One of eight children, he was preceded in death by six of his siblings and leaves his brother, Arnold Bertram of Southern California. Dr. Bertram also leaves his seven beloved grandchildren and two loving great grandchildren. A graveside service will be on Thursday, August 2, 2012 at Beit Olam Jewish Cemetery (550 Old San Jose Road) in Soquel; beginning at 1 p.m., Rabbi Paula Marcus of Temple Beth El Jewish Community will officiate. Remembrances may be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County. To light a candle and share your thoughts with the family, please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Aug. 1, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Sidney Bertram

5 Entries

Bill Xenakis

April 21, 2022

Professor Bertram was my Sr Project advisor and EM Fields 1 professor. I liked him very much. He was the best Engineering professor teaching EM fields. He shared with me his paper, A Classical Foundation for Electromagnetics. I wondered if it ever was recognized as a novel and insightful contribution to the field? Good man. I'm sorry he's gone. God's Blessings to his family. Bill Xenakis, Cal Poly 1985

August 13, 2012

Our deepest sympathy to Irv and his family on the loss of his father. What a gifted and remarkable man he was.

The Conrards, Kirkland, WA

Sandy Satuloff Doering

August 5, 2012

Your wisdom continues to inspire and influence.

Marion Dietz

August 3, 2012

My wonderful Uncle Sid. I think of all you have given to us, your family. Your smiles, your bright eyes, your loving and
brilliant conversations. You have left your unforgettable imprint upon all of us - forever.

Love Always,
Niece, Marion

How you can show support

Get email updates whenever changes are made.

Send flowers

Consider sending flowers.

Add photos

Share their life with photo memories.

Plant trees

Honor them by planting trees in their memory.

Donate in Memory

Make a donation in memory of your loved one.

Share this page

Invite other friends and family to visit the page.

Gary Bertram

August 2, 2012

Sidney has been not only my fathers older brother and his lifelong friend, but I think probably even something of a hero to him and to me as well. One of my favorite visits ever as a child was to Sid's home to visit with each of his three sons (only later did I begin to know his daughter Susan). His smile was always there waiting to be shared with my sisters and I and other visiting family members. He could be so down to earth among family and visitors alike, yet his mind could also mingle with the formulas and foundations of life itself through his relationships with & to the world of mathematics. I know that in life he challenged one of Einstein's theories, and maybe one day he will have been proven correct in his thinking and theorizing. Having read the book he authored on the teaching of Mathematics, I totally get it, for his method makes perfect sense. My dad truly loved his brother for who he was, how he lived and what he did with his life. Sid was an intellectual, and yet he was an uncle whom I'd always admired and cherished simply for who he was at home and with his family. My sisters and I will miss you Sid. You were my dad's greatest hope for one of the Bertram's to reach 100. And for all you did in life including electronics, mathematics, inventions and most of all ...family life you made it to 1000 in my book. My blessings this day are to you Irv and Luann, Robert and Gayle, Henry and Susan, and both Suzanne Bertram and Logan as well. I'm so sorry that I am not there with you.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results