Pierre Bergem

PIERRE BERGEM - age 78, of Norwalk, died on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at Honey Hill Care Center. Born in Bettembourg, Luxembourg on August 19, 1928, he was the only child of the late Emile and Marie Fautsch Bergem.

Growing up as a teenager in Luxembourg during World War II, he personally experienced the entire Battle of the Bulge that left an indelible mark on his life and future career. He became a Luxembourg commissioned military officer and received his education and professional training in Luxembourg, Belgium, France and the United States. He retired in 1983 as Colonel (the highest military rank) and second in command of the Luxembourg Army. He also held the positions of Luxembourg's representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium and the National Military Representative to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.

Colonel Bergem was predeceased by his first wife, Colette Kaikinger Bergem of Ghent, Belgium, in 1979. He is survived by two sons, one daughter, one daughter-in-law and five grandchildren, all living in Luxembourg. They areson Laurent and his daughter Claire; son Alain, his wife Carole and their children JŽr™me and Anna; and daughter ValŽrie and her daughters Julie and Charlotte. In 1982, he married Cheryl Sue Davisson in Stamford, Connecticut, and until his death, they made their home in Norwalk where Sue still resides.

Military history and publication collecting, drawing and painting were all rewarding lifetime hobbies for him. At age 16, he won a multinational first prize for a charcoal drawing; won poster contests in 1947; designed three postal stamps for Luxembourg; and illustrated for newspapers, brochures and books including a 1994 publication of his own "Sketches from the War". His artistic talent continued in the U.S. with community and church projects, art exhibits, and commissioned works.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Stamford, CT, on Thursday, October 5, 2006 at 11:00 AM. Interment will be held in Luxembourg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 42 Cross Road, Stamford, CT

06905 and/or the Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut Chapter, 279 New Britain Road, Suite 5, Kensington, CT

06037. Arrangements are being handled by the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford. www.cognetta.com