Jill Ellen Bergman

The family of Jill Bergman announces with great sadness her passing on April 29, 2025 at the age of sixty-three. Born in Long Branch, NJ, on April 23, 1962, Jill was the beloved daughter of Karl G Bergman(d 2018) with step-mom Ellen and Anne L Passmore with step-dad Gene(d 2024). Jill was a fun, energetic, and driven middle child of five siblings. She was our Tootsie Roll Pop; hard on the outside and soft in the center. Jill is survived by her siblings: Leslie Savage (Bob) of Mukilteo, WA, Karl Bergman of Bluffton, SC, Teri Bergman (Marcos) of Henderson, NV, and Alan Bergman of Dublin, PA. When Anne Passmore remarried(1985), Jill added two brothers, Mark Passmore(Kay) of Sherwood, OR and Gary Passmore(Dawn) of Sterling, MA. Jill was a beloved aunt that adored her nephews and nieces: Ryan Savage(Jessica), Erik Savage(Amy), Gordon Savage(Austin), Marc Martinez-Bergman, Karl Martinez-Bergman, and Nicole Martinez-Bergman.

Jill’s youth was spent in Westport, CT and wintered at Okemo Mountain Ski Resort, VT. Jill was an extremely gifted athlete; a varsity player for field hockey and ski teams from middle school through college. She loved the outdoors: Jill enjoyed the beach, swimming, fishing, boating, water skiing, golf, & tennis. A 1980 graduate of Westport’s Staples High School, she then attended University of Vermont in Burlington, VT. Jill graduated in 1984, majoring in Agriculture Economics(BS) and minoring in Plant and Soil Science. Her first job out of college was as a sales rep for Fertibec Fertilizer in Plattsburgh, VT. This male dominated industry was challenging, yet, Jill’s character, charm, and “can do” personality made her thrive. In 1990, she transitioned into entrepreneurship becoming the co-owner and manager of the Fertibec USA fertilizer blending facility in Gouverneur, NY.

In 1993, Jill made a career change and started in management with Staples, the retail office supply company. Jill had a successful ten year run with Staples as the general manager of various stores in Burlington, VT, Rutland, VT, Columbia, SC, Beaufort, SC, and Hilton Head Island, SC. Her stores were recognized for excellent customer service and outstanding sales.

As resident of Beaufort, SC for over twenty-three years, Jill loved her first and only home on Sunset Circle overlooking the Broad River. Jill was an avid golfer, enjoyed her wave runners, and cutting the lawn on her tractor. Yet her greatest joy was spending time with her dogs/fur-kids: Mia, Hannah, Piper, and Coco. Her love for animals was enormous.

Jill was also committed to family. She showed up, she participated, and she was a shining star that made us laugh until we cried. Her family is also grateful for all the love and care she gave Grandma Lewis during her final years as her main caregiver. Jill had a fondness for the elderly; she saw a little bit of Grandma Lewis in each one of them. Jill was never too busy to stop and have a conversation, share a laugh, carry a bag of groceries, load a wheelchair into the car, or offer a steady hand.

Jill’s life mottos when facing adversity:

It’s better to laugh than to cry!

It’s time to pull up those big girl panties!

After suffering a stroke in 2019 related to alcohol dependence, Jill relocated to Queen Anne Manor in Seattle, WA. Later, Jill was moved to the care of Alderwood Acute Care & Rehab of Lynnwood, WA, where she resided and passed away peacefully. Be free Jilly Bean…

Jill will be laid to rest at Glenwood Cemetery in West Long Branch, NJ alongside Ruth(grandma) and Baruch(pop-pop) Lewis.