Janice Bering

Janice Bering Janice, a long time resident of Woodside, Ca. passed away on Friday, September 24th. She was 83 years old at the time of her death. Janice Margaret Mitoff Bering was born in San Francisco on April 15, 1927. She graduated from Lincoln High School and went on to a long career as a ballet dancer. Janice started her ballet career in San Francisco with the San Francisco Ballet, and moved to New York to pursue her passion in 1948. She found work that first year in New York with the American Ballet Theatre. The next year Janice auditioned for, and was hired into the New York City Ballet, under the direction of George Balanchine. With the NYCB, Janice enjoyed performing throughout the United States and Europe. If you were lucky enough to know Janice, she had many interesting tales of life in New York in the 1950's, and the magic of the culture at that time. Following her career in New York, Janice moved back to San Francisco, where she taught ballet at the San Francisco Ballet. In 1961, Janice married Donald Bering, also of San Francisco. Janice and Don lived in the city until their children were old enough to attend school. Beginning in 1968, they moved to Woodside and Pebble Beach, Ca. She started Ballet Woodside, a non profit, and enjoyed her life and her family and friends and her garden to the fullest. Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Bering, and her brother, Stephan Mitoff of New York and Florida. She is survived by her daughters, Gretchen Bering (Jon Schink) of Palo Alto, Karin Bering-Friedrichs (Oliver) of Woodside, her twin sister Elsa Morrison, of Bellevue, Wa., and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and of course her friends, who will all miss her greatly. Her daughters, Gretchen and Karin, will most miss her spirit, her positive attitude and the inspiration that she gave them each day. Always the optimist, Janice would much prefer a party to a service, so friends and family are invited to share in a celebration of her life at her home on Saturday, October 9 at 4pm.