Howard C. Berky

Howard C. Berky passed away on March 7, 2006; just 23 days shy of his 100th birthday. His long, productive, loving life of service will be remembered by all whom he touched. His family and friends know that his strong Christian faith governed his lifetime approach to everyday living. Since moving to AZ, he has been a member of the Scottsdale Bible Church. Howard Berky is survived by his wife Elli of Scottsdale; a son and wife H. Charles and Dolores Berky of Boca Raton, FL; a son and his wife Arthur and Ursula Tripke of Largo, FL; and a daughter Jean Ann Tomes of Phoenix. Also, he leaves eight grandchildren including Richard and Bobbi Tomes, Jason and Sally Tomes, both of Flagstaff, and Dawn and Damon Shelton, of Phoenix; and nine great-grandchildren. Howard Berky was born on March 30, 1906 and raised in Allentown, PA - one of six children - where his father was a rural mail carrier. Howard spent his early years tending his father's two horses used in the mail delivery. He started his 50-plus-year newspaper career as a newsboy carrier and then as a copy boy in the Editorial Department of the Allentown Record. While attending Temple University, he became a reporter for the Allentown Call Chronicle where he eventually moved into advertising sales. Following jobs in advertising sales management at the Norristown (PA) Times Herald and the Coatesville (PA) Record, in 1932 he became Advertising Manager of the North Penn Reporter in Lansdale, PA where he spent the remainder of his newspaper career. In 1948, Berky, along with the Editor, formed Equitable Publishing Co. and purchased this 12,000 circulation daily newspaper from the previous owner's Estate. He remained as its owner and publisher until his retirement in 1975. In 1980, The Reporter - with over 22,000 daily circulations - was sold to Gannett Co. Inc. Berky and Equitable Publishing Co. also started and owned Radio Station WNPV, and purchased the Pennsburg (PA) Town & Country weekly newspaper in the early 1970's. Berky was very active in many community service organizations and also served in leadership positions of many newspaper industry State and National organizations. He also initiated a newsprint purchasing organization to help supply newsprint at the lowest possible cost to weekly newspaper customers in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region. Upon the passing of his first wife, Howard Berky married his loving, caring wife Elli in 1967 and pursued his fondness for traveling, which included about 18 trips to his favorite locations - Germany and Switzerland. After vacationing in Arizona for many years, Howard and Elli Berky permanently moved to Scottsdale in 1986. Their love of horses also included owning several while still in Pennsylvania and caring for them at the farm-home of their daughter. On his 80th birthday, his entire family celebrated by joining him on a "Breakfast Ride" in the AZ desert. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on April 1st at the Scottsdale Bible Church Chapel, 7901 E. Shea Blvd. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a contribution to the Habitat for Humanity, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709-3498. Arrangements by Messinger Indian School Mortuary.