James G. Bergera

James G. Bergera 1931 ~ 2008 James G. Bergera, husband, father, grandfather, and longtime Utah educator, passed away in the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family on January 12, 2008. The cause was respiratory failure compounded by congestive heart distress and diabetes. He was 76-years-old.Jim was born on April 13, 1931, on a farm in Carbonville, Utah, to James Bergera and Teresa (Pagliasotti) Bergera. He was educated in Carbon County, and later graduated from Brigham Young University, first in 1956 (B.S., Elementary Education), and again in 1962 (M.S., Educational Administration). He received a doctorate in education from the University of Colorado (Boulder) in 1976. Jim taught elementary school in Hayward, California (1956-57), and then spent the remainder of his career in the Provo, Utah, School District. He taught at Franklin (1957-59) and at Provost (1959-61) elementary schools; was principal of Maeser (1961-64) and Provost (1964-65) elementary schools; was Director of Special Services (1965-79); Director of Elementary Education and Related Special Services (1979-80); Assistant Superintendent (1980-85); and Superintendent (1985-90). In 1989, Jim was named Utah Superintendent of the Year, and subsequently was one of four national finalists for Superintendent of the Year. He retired from the Provo School District in 1990. From 1991 until 2003, he was Executive Director of the Partnership Program at BYU's College of Education. During most of these same years, Jim also served on the Parks and Recreation Board for Provo City; on the Executive Board of the Utah County Drug and Rehabilitation Program; on the Title III and Title IV Advisory Board of the Utah State Board of Education; on the Executive Board for Mountainland Headstart; on the Evaluation Team for Special Education with Emphasis on Administrative Practices of the Utah State Office of Education; on the Special Education Advisory Board for the Utah State Office of Education; on the Advisory Board of Gifted /Talented Education for the Utah State Office of Education; was Vice Chairman of the Utah State Policy Board for the Division of Family Services; and chaired the Timpanogos Mental Health Center Advisory Board. Jim married Ella Ruth Turner of Sunnyside, Utah, on May 22, 1953. Their marriage was solemnized two years later for time and eternity in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. (Ella Ruth passed away in 2004.) As an undergraduate at BYU, Jim was baptized a member of the LDS church, and subsequently held several leadership positions in the church. Jim always credited BYU religion professor Wes Belnap with having played a major role in his decision to join the LDS church. Jim is survived by his five children: Gary (Salt Lake City), Gregg (Joann, Cedar City), Scott (Annette, Payson), Cathy Bigler (Larry, Salt Lake City), and Paul (Salt Lake City); and by his seven grandchildren: Chelsie (Wes), Brittany (Matt), Ryan, and Austin Bergera; Jordan Bergera; and Riley and Scott Bigler. Throughout his nearly 50 years in public education, Jim touched the lives of thousands of students and hundreds of teachers and administrators. Jim often prefaced his advice to family members by saying, "I'm here to tell you" His family believes that Jim was here to teach us all about the importance of compassion, integrity, and strength. "I've come to realize," Jim once said of his children, "that they need to please themselves, that if they're happy, I'm happy. If they were unhappy, I'd be unhappy. This realization has taken me a lot of work and a lot of growth over the past number of years to achieve because I've come to realize that success doesn't necessarily mean more money, but that it comes from enjoying what you're doing." Jim's magnanimity and largess of character remain sources of inspiration to all who knew him. In fact, towards the end, Jim's doctor told him that his heart simply could not get any bigger. Friends may call on Thursday, January 17, 2008 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Berg Mortuary, 185 East Center Street, Provo. At Jim's request, there will be no public funeral service. Interment, Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to info@bergmortuary.com