Bertram Rodgers Jr.

Bertram Joseph Rodgers Jr Born on October 25th, 1925, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the second child of Bertram Joseph Rodgers and Marie Anna Fischer's four children. During his growing years in a Navy family he lived in many different places in the US and also in Panama. At the age of 16 he entered the California Institute of Technology as a Naval Officer Candidate, and he completed his degree in mechanical engineering at the age of 20. After finishing Officer's training school he was commissioned in the US Navy and served on the USS Cone in the Pacific, continuing with assignments in the Mediterranean, England and Germany. He married Mary Sylvia Tammaro in Naples, Italy in 1953. The two had met in New York City when Bert was a young ensign after the War. Bert departed the Navy in 1955 after 10 years of honorable service, and came to San Francisco, his life-long home of choice and where he and Mary Sylvia raised their family. Bert worked for the Bechtel Corporation from 1962 to 1990, where Project Manager duties took him to locations in Canada, Egypt, Mauritania, New Zealand, and Norway, as well as domestic sites on the northern coast of Alaska and in Massachusetts. His favorite assignment was the construction of the road in the rugged wild for the Alaskan oil pipeline. After his retirement Bert particularly enjoyed traveling in the US and abroad, restoring his vintage 1951 Riley Motorcar, and helping with Mary's antiques business. He is survived by his wife of 58 years; three children Bertram III (Maria Spustek), Sylvia (Thomas Albro) and Anthony (Karen Schmitt); five grandchildren Jordan and Alison 21, Joseph 17, Andrew 10, and Margot 4. He is also survived by his brothers Paul (Joan) and James (Jeannette) and ten nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Elizabeth (Michael Casey). Bert was a long-standing member and Eucharistic Minister at St. Vincent de Paul Church in the Marina district of San Francisco, where he was much beloved and where he formed many life-long friendships. He was a longtime volunteer at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and an avid member of the SF Ceramic Circle, the Riley Motor Club, and the Leonardo DaVinci Society. In these last few years, despite his ongoing battle with cancer, Bert took many opportunities to reflect upon his rich life and many blessings. He was greatly treasured during his lifetime by his family and friends and although his earthly presence will be dearly missed, his companionship and benevolence will continue to be widely cherished. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Anthony's Dining Room, or St. Mary's Medical Center Foundation. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul, 2320 Green St., SF, on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 9:15am. Burial will be at the Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego. McAVOY O'HARA Co 415-668-0077