Gilbert Theodore "Gil" Bergquist

Gilbert T. Bergquist Gilbert "Gil" Theodore Bergquist, 60, died Tuesday, March 14, 2006, at his home after a courageous fight against pancreatic cancer. A celebration of life is being planned. Family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. EST today at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Timberlane Road Chapel (850-893-4177). Memorial contributions may be made to Child Advocates II, P.O. Box 3992, Tallahassee, FL 32315, or 1,000 Friends of Florida, P.O. Box 5948, Tallahassee, FL 32314. The son of Laura Roberta Anderson and Gilbert T. Bergquist Sr., Gil was born Aug. 6, 1945 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He graduated from Wheaton High School in Maryland and Shepard College in West Virginia and received his master's degree and doctorate in government from Florida State University. Gil married Constance Anne Crawford, the daughter of James Robert and Mary M. Fiedler Crawford of South Bend, Ind., on Dec. 28, 1968. They shared 37 years of loving, living and laughing. In his long professional career as an environmental planner, Gil was the chief of the Bureau of Housing and Community Development for the Florida Department of Community Affairs, and chief planning officer in charge of the Office of Planning and Research for the Florida administrator for the Program for Environment Policy and Planning Systems, Institute of Science and Public Affairs, at Florida State University. He retired in April 2005 after 32 years of public service. Gil enjoyed traveling and cooking and was a member of a gourmet club for more than 20 years. He was a strong supporter of the environment and enjoyed hiking, using his kayak and photography. For the last six years, Gil was a volunteer in the Guardian Ad Litem Program, contributing his time to easing the lives of neglected and abused children. He was a devoted father and coached Little League baseball and youth soccer teams. Gil was an avid FSU sports fan, attending virtually all home football games for 38 years. He had a finely developed sense of humor and regaled many people with his wit. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and friends. Gil is survived by his beloved wife; two sons, Gilbert T. "Ted" Bergquist III of Tampa and James "Jamie" Leigh Bergquist of Tallahassee; his father, Gilbert T. Bergquist Sr. of Anna Maria; a sister, Deborah Bergquist Ross (and spouse Art) of Columbia, Md.; two half-sisters, Laura Bergquist of Little Rock, Ark., and Marisa Bergquist of New York City; and a half-brother, Kevin Bergquist of Anna Maria. He was preceded in death by his mother.