Shari Diane Berger

In her early years, Diane spent many hours playing in the family rose garden, listening to piano and violin music played by her family, and watching her favorite TV performers: Lawrence Welk, Liberace, and George Liberace playing his magical violin.

Summers included many family vacations, with her parents teaching her the local and national history as well as cultural history of various parts of the country.

She began her traditional education at Roosevelt School in Ponca City, where she embarked on her musical journey in the fourth grade playing violin in the school orchestra.

Diane established herself as an honor roll student and a talented violinist and graduated from Ponca City Senior High in 1969. She studied music and received the Bachelor of Music Education from Oklahoma State University. She then earned her Master of Music Education at the University of Arkansas, where she also served as a teaching assistant.

The start of her 35 year-long teaching career was in 1974 in Putnam City where she taught both elementary and secondary strings for two years. Following that, she spent her next two years studying in Montreal, Quebec.

Diane founded the Edmond String Program in 1978, laying the groundwork for one of the largest and most successful programs in the state. She taught at Sequoyah Middle School, then 8th grade center, Edmond Mid-High, Edmond Memorial High School and North High School. From humble beginnings, rehearsing in cafeterias and storage closets, she exhibited vision and tenacity to start an orchestra program from scratch and grow it to a regional model orchestra program. Under her baton, orchestras regularly earned superior ratings at state competition as well as the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association sweepstakes awards, the highest honor given by the state’s activities association.

She was selected the Oklahoma ASTA Teacher of the Year for 2002, and has several listings in Who’s Who in American Teachers. Diane also received the Governor’s Commendation from Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry in 2007, the “Distinguished Teacher Award” from Edmond Public Schools for work that impacted the entire district, and the Oklahoma Music Educators Association exemplary teacher award for 2014.

Outside of her career, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends and traveling. Being a civil war buff and a light house enthusiast, she spent her summer breaks traveling, taking fantastic trips all over the US and Canada. She was also a huge OKC hockey fan and rarely missed an opportunity to attend a game and ring her cowbell. She also unabashedly shared (to everyone) her steadfast devotion to her alma mater – Oklahoma State University.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister, Linda Berger; niece, April Broome and husband, Phil; nephew, Corbin Grimsley; great niece, Melodie Kienitz and husband Brooks; great niece, Camille Broome and many loving cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to the Diane Berger Scholarship Endowment through the Edmond Public Schools Foundation.

Link to Memorial Slideshow, provided by Diane's Family:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-oRjj09kpRFE7td-gp6hARvT0DsZ8YTMkU96Awkabro/edit?usp=sharing