EARL "LARRY" BERTRAND

BERTRAND, EARL "LARRY' 1919 to 2013 Earl Lawrence Bertrand, 93, of La Jolla, California, died at home on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, surrounded by loving family. Born on May 28, 1919, in Long Beach, California, to Leonard Roy Bertrand and Emma Martha (Gakemeier) Bertrand, he attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach and the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating in 1942 with a BS from the College of Business Administration. During World War II, he served in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Captain. He met his future wife, Patricia Ann Obrien, while working in the dining room at her UCLA sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. They were married on August 18, 1945 in Los Angeles, days after the war's end. The family moved from Los Angeles to San Diego County in 1950. After living in Pacific Beach and El Cajon, the family moved to their present home in La Jolla in 1963. Larry was one of the founding partners of the Fed Mart Corporation in 1954, where he held the position of Senior Vice President until 1975. Following his 20-year career at Fed Mart, he embarked on a 30-year career in real estate development and construction. He headed several companies over the years, including Kevron Development Company and Ebert Realty Company. He was most proud of his apartments for low-income seniors in Desert Hot Springs and Calexico, and of the hundreds of single-family homes he built in Calexico. Larry had two abiding passions - his family and his work. He enjoyed swimming at the La Jolla Cove, travel in the US and Europe, good food, wine and company, and the occasional dry Rob Roy, always with a twist. He was a member of St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, where he served on the Vestry for a number of years. His energy, optimism, humor and wisdom enriched the lives of family members and business associates alike. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Patricia; three sons, Dr. Kevin Bertrand (Marie Keledjian) of La Jolla, Dr. Scott Bertrand (Diane) of Greensboro, NC, and Dr. Marc Bertrand (Dr. Sharon Ikeda) of Etna, NH; six grandchildren, Dr. Azra Bertrand (Seren) of Ashville, NC, Patrick Bertrand (Carrie) of Greensboro, NC, Dr. Christopher Bertrand of Cambridge, MA, and Alexander, Sylvie and Nicholas Bertrand, all of Etna, NH; and one great-grandchild, Ayla Bertrand, of Greensboro, NC. A private graveside service will be held at El Camino Memorial Park in Sorrento Valley. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to San Diego Hospice, 4311 Third Ave, San Diego CA 92103.