BERT BENEVILLE

Bert Beneville On February 18, 2013, Bert Beneville set sail on his final voyage. Born on March 25, 1940, Bert was raised in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, graduated high school in 1958 in Tokyo, Japan, and obtained his bachelor's degree in 1962 from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Demonstrating a tremendous work ethic and commitment to family, Bert finished college while working several jobs to provide for his young family. Not long after graduating from college, Bert began a long career as a stockbroker for Merrill Lynch, first, in Tucson, Arizona, and then, (much to the surprise of his family) in Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage was the perfect home for Bert. He thrived professionally and was able to share many camping, fishing, hunting, and sailing adventures with his family. Work pulled him away from Anchorage and, after a brief stint in the Bay Area, he settled in Gig Harbor, Washington. Bert loved his adopted community and the life that he and his longtime companion, Jan Bomhoff, created there for 20 years. Wherever he lived, Bert contributed his time and energy as a volunteer with Kiwanis, Rotary, the Boy's Club, and the YMCA. Whether for a stranger or a friend, Bert would always stop to help a person in need. Rather than ease into the luxury of retirement, Bert became a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the Gig Harbor Fire Department, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant. (Don't tell the kids, but it was Bert who played Gig Harbor's Santa for many years.) An avid sailor, Bert sailed from Hawaii to Alaska as well as fully exploring the waters of Alaska, Washington, and Western Canada. Bert served as Commodore of the Gig Harbor Yacht Club and loved cruising with all his yacht club friends. Whatever he was doing, Bert tried to do it to the best of his ability. And even when he didn't win, he loved to play (which would explain his continued attempts to golf and bowl). Wherever he went, Bert always had a handshake ready, a smile on his face, and a joke to tell. Bert was far from perfect, but he was an extraordinary man who loved and was loved. And always will be. In his last days, Bert's family surrounded him with love, humor, and his favorite silly songs. The patriarch of a close and loving family, Bert leaves behind Jan Bomhoff as well as his son, Derrick, daughter-in-law, Michele, and grandchildren, Kaitlin and Blake; his son, Trey, daughter-in-law, Melisa, and grandchildren, Brandon, Tess Griffo, Laura Santos, and Daniel Griffo; his daughter, Susan, and her partner, Leslie Absher; Bert's former wife, Jean Beneville; his brothers Jack and Richard; his nephew Michael and niece-in-law, Kimberly; his niece Alexandra, nephew-in-law, Josh Hemani, and grand-niece and nephew, Alia and Bowen Hemani; and, Jan's children Jill Hume, Jeff Bomhoff, and Brad Bomhoff, and granddaughters, Audrey and Kelley Hume. Bert will also be missed by all of his Murphy, Morris and Beneville cousins. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on March 2, 2013 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 3510 Rosedale Street NW, Gig Harbor, WA, 98332 immediately followed by a celebration of Bert's life at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club at 8209 Stinson Avenue, Gig Harbor, WA. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Gig Harbor Yacht Club Endowment Fund at the address above.