John D. Berg

BERG John D. Berg, age 80, of the Huntington section of Shelton, died at his home on Friday, February 27, 2004, after a battle with cancer. Born November 24, 1923 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, he was the son of the late John and Myrtle Johansen Berg. Mr. Berg attended the Purdue University School of Engineering before joining the U.S. Army Signal Intelligence Service in World War II, where he served as a code specialist in the Philippines, Australia and in MacArthur's headquarters in Tokyo. Upon his discharge from the service, he enrolled in the University of Iowa School of Journalism. He received his degree in 1948 and started his career as a director for ABC in Chicago in the early days of television. He subsequently began working in advertising and joined the George Hartman Agency in Chicago. He opened a branch office in New York City for the agency when it was acquired by McManus, John and Adams, where he managed accounts for Hartz Mountain, Westclox and other national clients. In 1969 he launched his own agency - Advertising Plus Inc. in Stamford. Mr. Berg retired in 1987 and moved to the Huntington section of Shelton in 1995. A 40-year resident of New Canaan, he was a longtime member and the designated humorist of the New Canaan Senior Men's Club. A lifelong love of jazz began when he started playing clarinet and saxaphone in a high school dance band. He was an avid supporter of the Connecticut Traditional Jazz Club and served on its board for many years. Mr. Berg is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Jacqueline Biddle Berg of Huntington; his five devoted children: three sons, William Berg of Greenville, S.C., Thomas Berg of Wardsboro, Vt., and Jay Berg of Huntington; two daughters, Anne-Marie Nordgren and Kate Berg, both of South Salem, N.Y.; a sister, Zoe Berry of Niles, Mich.; and five loving grandchildren. Friends may call on Tuesday, March 2, 2004, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Mr. Berg's brother-in-law, Rev. Ward Biddle, C.P., at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 in St. Lawrence Church in Shelton. There will be a brief service at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home on Wednesday morning prior to the Mass. Interment services in Monroe Center Cemetery will follow the Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the local chapter of the Hospice Foundation or to United Home Hospice, 40 Lindeman Drive, Trumbull, CT 06611.