Charlotte - Stefan Berger, 89, passed away on April 27, 2013 at Sunrise Assisted Living. He was born on May 20, 1923 in Wuppertal, Germany, a beloved son of the late Anna Prager Berger and Gustav Berger.
Beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.
A Holocaust Survivor, Stefan came to the United States at the age of 14, stayed with a host family in MA, and then reunited with his family. He graduated on the top of his high school class, served in WWII, and then attended Princeton University, earning his degree in Chemistry.
He married Renate Neu on December 27, 1953. They lived in California and then moved to Erie, PA, where he became a Paper Chemist for Hammermill Paper Company for over 40 years. Stefan was very involved and dedicated to the Jewish Community, particularly with the Brith Sholom Congregation where he served as President, VP of Religion, and the President of Brotherhood.
Stefan and Renate moved to Charlotte, NC in 2004 to be close with their family.
Stefan was very active for the majority of his life; he played basketball in his youth and, like his mother, was a dedicated walker. He especially enjoyed walking his dogs, Tuffy and then Mandy. He enjoyed classical music and reading the New Yorker and New York Times. He would complete a NY Times crossword puzzle in ink. He has a legacy of coming up with corny jokes that made everyone smile.
Stefan was a true gentleman. His family came first. He was humble and honest.
The last years of his life were spent with his wife at Sunrise on Providence. Our thanks go out to the entire Sunrise Team. Special thanks to the Reminiscence Team, who gave Stefan special care for the past 7 months.
Also thanks goes to Hospice of Charlotte for their care of Stefan and support of our family.
Stefan is survived by his loving wife, Renate Berger; his sister, Margret Kanner; his children, Jonathan and Tess Berger, and Michael Berger. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Aaron, Nathan and Eliana Berger, Colby Sheff and Jordan Berger.
Graveside services will be held at noon on Monday, April 29, 2013 at the Hebrew Cemetery, located at 1801 Statesville Avenue, Charlotte, NC, with Rabbi Murray Ezring of Temple Israel officiating.
The first Shiva Minyan will be held at the home of Jonathan and Tess Berger on Monday April 29, 2013 at 7:45 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, and to Temple Israel in Charlotte, NC.
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