James D. Bercaw

JAMES D. BERCAW James David Bercaw died at home on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Jim was the loving husband for forty-nine years of June Denman Bercaw and the devoted father of two sons: James D. Bercaw (Diana Monteverde Bercaw) of Metairie, Louisiana and Jeffery D. Bercaw (Kristen Cholette Bercaw) of Oak Ridge, North Carolina. Jim is also survived by his grandchildren, Hope Jefferson, James, Claire and Louis as well as siblings Deborah Weir, John E. Bercaw, and Jennifer Collins. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Witherow Bercaw and Mary Josephine Heywood Bercaw. Jim received his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama in 1957, where he was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society as well as the Delta Tau Delta social fraternity. He did post-graduate work at a variety of schools, including Princeton University, Columbia University, New York University, and INSEAD International Business School in France. He received an honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant from the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army. Jim began his career at Bell Laboratories. Through the years, he held a variety of positions in engineering and management at Western Electric and AT&T Consumer Products. In 1984, he became Manufacturing Vice President and oversaw the establishment of factories in Singapore, Thailand and Mexico. From 1991 to 1993 he was Product Management and Group Vice President, having responsibility for all residential telephones. In 1993, as Executive Vice President of Operations, he went to Shanghai, China and established three factories and a logistics center. In Shanghai he also served as President of the American Chamber of Commerce, whose membership grew nearly threefold. In 1988, Jim was named a Distinguished Engineering Fellow by the University of Alabama, College of Engineering, where he also served as a member of the Engineering Leadership Board and an advisor to the Dean of the College of Engineering. Additionally, in 1991, Jim received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Purdue University's School of Engineering and Technology. He served as a member of the Manufacturing Committee of the National Research Council in 1991 and 1992. Following retirement, Jim and his wife moved to Florida subsequently to Sewall's Point where he was elected Town Commissioner and later became Vice Mayor. In 2004 they moved to Vero Beach where he has served on the Board of Hibiscus of Indian River County, as a member of the Executive Committee of the Indian River Republican Party, as a member of the New Construction and Modifications Committee for St. Andrew Island's Property Owners Association, as team leader of Lakes and Estuaries on Grand harbor Property management team, and was a founding member of the Audubon Society. At Grand harbor he did find time to play golf, surf cast, cruise on True Love Too, and cheer on Alabama football. Jim served as a Ruling Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. As the head of the building committee, Jim was instrumental in the development and facility expansion at the church. A memorial service will be held March 10 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on Royal Palm Point in Vero Beach. The Reverend Dr. G. Timothy Womack will be officiating. After the service the family will be receiving friends in McAfee Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the First Presbyterian Church Building Fund and the Indian River Medical Center Foundation Cancer Campaign. An online guestbook is available at www.Strunkfuneralhome.com Paid Obituary