John Richard Bergh

John's Story John was born on November 18, 1927 to Charles and Eleanor Bergh in Camden, New Jersey. He lost his mother when just a toddler and was raised by his paternal Norwegian-American grand parents in southern New Jersey and later again by his dad. He had two older siblings: Charles and Pauline. He entered the Navy right after leaving high school. After a long, busy and happy life in NJ, John moved to Portland, Oregon in February 2011 to live near his daughter Donna Bergh and her husband Silas W. Davis III. He was happy to be within 5 miles of Donna, his two grandsons, Timur and Tamer Kiykioglu, and their spouses, Heather and Juli, and his great grand-daughter Ella. He had visited over the years and resumed enjoying many activities with family and friends including outings to the coast, Central Oregon and Mt. Hood, bean bag bowling, singing, model making, and watching old westerns. A cowboy at heart, John's front door welcomed guests with a cowboy hat and lasso hanging on a nail and a painting of a Wells Fargo stage coach hung above his bed. A favorite adventure was a ride on a local train tour that featured mock train robbers who attacked the passengers. Prior to moving to Oregon, John spent most of his life in southern New Jersey enjoying the bounties there that include beautiful beaches, fresh peaches, blueberries, silver queen corn and fabulous tomatoes, and the lovely meadowlands. As a youngster he enjoyed playing on the Tuckahoe River and attending Ocean City High School. He downhill skiied at regional resorts as well as ones as far as Canada. He scuba dived at Woods Hole and elsewhere. He loved an adventure and tried hang gliding, hot air balloon rides and canoeing the back waters of the Pinelands. He was an avid automobile enthusiast with his favorite car being a Shelby Mustang. He attended car races whenever possible and had several special events with pit passes at the Rose Cup races. His friend Mark recalls him running his car at Watkins Glen. His last car was a white GT 350 with blue racing stripes. He sure hated giving up driving when he moved to Oregon, but still enjoyed his car magazines and feeling the rev of his son-in-law's 2006 GTO. When not being an adventurer, he worked as a cook at Ancora State Hospital and as a chef at the Cherry Hill Inn and the Smithville Inn in New Jersey. He worked long hours without complaint even though he often got up at 4 a.m. and returned around midnight after a restaurant shift. We remember seeing him grab an hour nap between jobs and then heading out looking ready but a little sleepy for the next job. Saturdays were spent with his family at the beach in the summer or mowing the lawn, trimming the roses, washing his car or shoveling snow in the winter. John married twice. He is survived by his first wife, Beatrice Bailey Celona, and his son Gary Bergh and daughter Donna Bergh. He married his second wife Sandi and helped her raise the four small children she brought to the marriage: Betty Beckley (married Rick), Diana Franco (Frank), Andrew Brandenberger (Hedy), Sonny Brandenberger (Denise). He enjoyed being a father again. John died from a choking accident on March 25, 2012 at his assisted living home at Regency Park in Portland, Oregon. He was enjoying dinner with his friends. He is survived by his six children and their families. John was a simple man with great curiosity, a trusting nature and a big heart. We miss him terribly. To learn more about John see below: Things John really liked: • Driving in his Mustangs • Hot air balloons • Bonsai plants • Ski lodges and skiing • Beaches • Scuba diving • Spending time with his family, especially his great grand-daughter • Olive Garden and PF Chang meals • Photography • Lobster and soft shell crabs • Building furniture • Going on interesting day tours with his co-resident John who relates relevant history and enjoyable stories • Having Veronica come in and laugh with him • Glider rides • Hang gliding • Clams and pasta • Wristwatches with lots of gadgets • Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead • The beauty of cougars, wolves, horses and bears • Native American art and jewelry • Holiday meals with his niece Carol and her family • Getting notes from Krista • Shopping at LL Bean with his son Gary in NJ • Cooking up NJ summer silver queen corn and fresh tomatoes • Visiting his friends over a latte at Casciano Coffee Bar & Sweetery in Hammonton, NJ • Eating Juli's cookies • Bean bag baseball at Regency Park Listening to Credence Clearwater Revival Talking with Brian on the phone almost everyday Talking about cars with Sonny and TJ and his grandsons and anyone else who would listen : ) John was looking forward to: • Building a terrarium • Finishing his airplane model • Going to a beach house with the whole family in August and having fish and chips • A visit from his pilot friend, Tom, and a trip with him to see the Spruce Goose--for the fifth time • Father's Day Some cool memories John often repeated: • Meeting Paul Newman and sitting around a campfire with him at the car races • Flying in Tom's plane over Hammonton, New Jersey and beyond • Serving a buffet dinner to Grace Kelly in Cherry Hill, NJ • Camping trips with his second family: Sandi, Sonny, Betty, Andy and Diane • A road trip to Central Oregon with his daughter Donna and the summer chair lift ride to view the Three Sisters • A trip to Martha's Vineyard with his first family in the 60's • Visiting Cannon Beach with Silas and Donna and having halibut and salmon fish and chips • Visiting the Boeing plant with his grandson Tamer • Working in the deli with Ali and Heather • Remembering how his wife Sandi helped Native American communities • Watching how well Timur raises his daughter Christmases at Diana's and the wonderful quiche she made