John Dennis Berdis

away on October 6, 2021 at the age of 83. John Berdis can be

remembered as a fighter and someone who didn’t give up easily and he

was determined to overcome the effects of Parkinson’s Disease. Although

John suffered with the effects of Parkinson’s Disease, he always made an

effort to be a good listener and conversationalist with other people,

especially with the folks he met at the facilities where he lived the last two

years. Everytime family walked down the hall, residents and caregivers

always said “hi” and had nothing, but nice things to say about him.

John Berdis was born on November 12, 1937 in Hammond, Indiana. His

mom and dad picked his first name to be John after his own dad’s name

and his middle name was Dennis after his mom’s heritage, an Irish name.

John and his brother, Terry, grew up in a two bedroom brick house that had

a basement which was converted into a rec room where there was a ping

pong table, piano, etc. The house sat next to a large forest preserve and he

had lots of fun playing with his brother and friends.

John continued his life journey by attending Indiana University where he

received his BA in Accounting. After college, he moved to California to

accept a job with the Franchise Tax Board where he met the love of his life,

Judith Hiroko Ohara. John first laid eyes on Judy when she was working in

the typing pool. He was so enamored with her that he made excuses to

bring her documents to type up for him just to get to know her. John and

Judy married on December 31, 1960, in Los Angeles, CA. John and Judy

lived a life of travel and commitment to family.

John and Judy moved to La Palma, California to raise their four children.

John and Judy were dedicated to raising their family. They made sure that

their children were well rounded and focused on being a productive,

morally responsible citizen of the world. Guitar lessons, piano lessons, trips

to plays, 7 course dinners, Girl Scouts, and supporting his girls’ in their

desires to play travel softball was all a part of their life in LaPalma. John

would be found at the local elementary school with his daughters hitting

ground balls to them so that they could improve their craft.

When John and Judy retired, they made plans to see all 50 states. One of

John’s favorite trips was traveling back east with Judy to see and

experience the fall foliage. John was a dedicated, loving husband who

would do anything for his wife. John was the model husband for his

daughters because he cared so deeply for his wife as evidenced in so

many things he did for her. He took Judy to Japan so that she could learn

more about her own culture. Hawaii was also one of John’s favorite trips

because he knew it would make his wife happy to be in her home state. He

also even followed her around JCPenney shopping for clothes for their

grandchildren. John led a model life and his children and grandchildren

learned so much from him from the importance of college to caring for his

wife and family.

After raising their children in La Palma, California, John retired at the age of

55 and relocated to Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning, CA. One of John’s

passions in life was golfing, and you would find him on the course nearly 5

days a week. John joined the men’s golf club of which he played in many

tournaments and played very well. John also got involved in the community

by becoming the District Neighborhood Ambassador, and he would

participate in the Annual Holiday Chorale show. John and Judy enjoyed

their life of retirement as they got to spend it with their beloved dog, Tuffy,

family, traveling, and enjoying sports.

John always made sure he was able to attend the grandchildren’s sporting

events from basketball, football to his favorite sport, baseball. John and

Judy were avid baseball fans and loved watching the Anaheim Angels. He

would take the grandkids on spring training trips to Arizona. Before he

moved from Banning to San Diego in his later years, he told his grandboys

that he had to have the MLB Network so that he could watch his favorite

baseball team play ball. The grandkids took after their grandpa in loving the

game of baseball/softball and he loved talking about it with them and the

love for this sport is now a legacy that will live forever in his family.

Simply stated, John was a good and kind person, an individual who will for

all time be remembered by his family and friends as being a caring and

giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. John leaves

behind a legacy of cherished memories and knowledge. He touched the

lives of many and all will remember John Dennis Berdis.

John is survived by his four children, Denise, Michael, Kathleen and

Suzanne, AND SEVEN grandchildren, Adam, Maxwell, Athena, Tanner,

Connor, Brianna, Emily, and one great grandchild, Ariana Celeste, along

with his brother, Terence Berdis.

The funeral service will be held at the Riverside National Cemetery (22495

Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518) on November 4, 2021 at 11:30