Bruce Raymond Berger

1946 - 2025

Bruce Raymond Berger, 79, of Silver Springs, Florida, formerly of Pittsfield and Hinsdale, Massachusetts, passed away on November 8, 2025. Born in Pittsfield on August 24, 1946, the son of Ray and Helen Berger, he was a 1964 graduate of Pittsfield High School, where he played football and developed a lifelong love of competition. An entrepreneur and well-known local businessman, Bruce owned and operated several Dalton-area businesses over the years, including The Dugout (later The Clubhouse), a popular sports bar, as well as the Dalton Car Wash and B&B Auto Sales. He built a loyal community of patrons and friends along the way. Many of his bar regulars played on local softball teams together, creating the kind of camaraderie Bruce cherished. Bruce's true passion was auto racing. He began competing at Lebanon Valley Speedway in the late 1960s, spending many years behind the wheel before becoming a car owner for several prominent drivers. Among them was his nephew, Brian Berger, with whom he shared a special bond through racing for more than 50 years. Over six decades, Bruce and his teams enjoyed success at tracks throughout the Northeast and Canada. In 2024, he was honored with induction into the Lebanon Valley Speedway Hall of Fame. More than anything, Bruce valued the friendships built around his race cars - the great group of guys who spent countless hours with him in the garage, at local tracks, and on road trips to races and special events. Those shared experiences were among his greatest joys. When Bruce retired, he and his longtime companion, Kathy Giunipero, moved to Florida, where they enjoyed a quieter life surrounded by their many beloved dogs. He was predeceased by his parents, Ray and Helen Berger. Though he had no children of his own, he shared a life full of love, laughter, and friendship with Kathy, his family, and his many friends. In keeping with Bruce's wishes, there will be no formal services. A celebration of life will be held in the spring in the Berkshires. Memorial donations may be made to the Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201.