Richard E. "Dick Bertel" Bertelmann

Bertelmann

Richard E. Bertelmann "Dick Bertel"

With his family by his side, Richard E. Bertelmann, who was professionally known as Dick Bertel throughout most of his extensive media career, passed away peacefully at Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland on the morning of September 11, 2023. He was 92.



From 1984 to 2006, Dick worked at the Voice of America as an executive, program host, news anchor, and producer for both radio and television. Among his many assignments, the Gaithersburg, MD. resident managed the Top-40 network VOA Europe including a tour directing its affiliate relations from an office in Munich, Germany. He also created, produced, and hosted the global call-in program Talk to America.



In parallel with his early work at VOA, he anchored local newscasts for Washington's all-news radio institution, WTOP. From 1988 to his temporary move to Munich in 1991, he anchored national newscasts for the NBC Radio and Mutual Broadcasting System networks from the Westwood One studios in Crystal City, Virginia.



When Dick retired, he volunteered for Montgomery County's Gilchrest Immigration Center as a teacher of conversation skills for people who speak English as a second language. He stopped in February 2023 only because his health demanded it.



Born in the Bronx, New York on January 6, 1931, Dick and his family relocated to Darien, Connecticut in 1944. Before he had even graduated from high school there, he had landed an announcing position at a nearby radio station. He graduated from New York University in 1952 with a degree in broadcasting.



In 1954, he met his beloved wife Jean, then a nurse at Stamford Hospital, while working at that city's local radio station. A year later they married and relocated to Hartford, CT. where Dick joined the announcing staff of the legendary 50,000-watt radio station WTIC, owned at that time by the Travelers Insurance Companies.



In 1957, WTIC put its long-awaited television station, Channel 3 (WFSB today), on the air. Television was still in its formative years, allowing Dick to experiment with new concepts and approaches.



During this time when Channel 3 was operated alongside WTIC (AM) and WTIC-FM, Dick was seen and heard constantly on all three stations, making him one of Connecticut's best known and most versatile media personalities. His assignments there culminated in 1972 with his appointment as the anchor of the Six O'clock Report on Channel 3.



In 1978 he was recruited to direct Hartford's WKSS Radio, ultimately becoming its vice president and general manager. By then however, he had already been associated with the Voice of America as a freelance contributor for more than 15 years. Offered a full-time opportunity there six years later, he eagerly moved to Washington to make VOA the capstone of his long, prominent career in broadcasting.



Richard Edwin Bertelmann was predeceased by his father Henry Bertelmann, his mother Martha (née Delventhal) Latz, his stepfather James Latz, and his brother Harry Bertelmann. In addition to many close friends, he is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jean Bertelmann of Gaithersburg, MD.; their daughter Darcy Bertelmann of Gettysburg, PA; their son Jim Bertelmann of Fairfax, VA.; their daughter Susan and son-in-law Michael Rau of Leesburg, VA.; their son Doug and daughter-in-law Lynette Bertelmann of Fort Mill, SC; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and numerous adored nephews and nieces including his brother Harry's daughter, Nancy Sheets of Reno, Nevada.



At 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, 2023, a memorial service will be held in Germantown, MD. at the United Church of Christ of Seneca Valley. It will be livestreamed. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the church at uccsenecavalley.org or to Smile Train, a charity that provides corrective surgery for children born with cleft lips and palates, at donate.smiletrain.org. The family guestbook can be signed at:

www.DeVolFuneralHome.com