Edward Charles Berra

Ed was the beloved son of the late Charles and Ida (nee Fontana) Berra; cherished brother of the late Dorothy (the late Orville) Knight and the late Janet (the late Gordon) Noel; special cousin of the late Lawrence (the late Millie) Berra; dear uncle of Thomas (the late Sally) Knight, Mary Kay (Tim Farrell) Macheca, Charles Knight, and Michele (Tim) West; devoted great-uncle of Sarah (Robert) Hickey, Monica Macheca, Charles West, John West, Libby West, Garrett Knight, Audrey Knight, and Annie Farrell; great-granduncle of Olivia Grace; a dear cousin and a friend to many in his lifetime.

Ed was born and raised in Saint Louis on The Hill and attended Holy Innocents Grade School. He graduated from Christian Brothers College Military Academy in 1947. He earned his BS in Economics from St. Louis University, graduating in 1951. Ed served his country in the US Army as a Sergeant during the Korean War and was the recipient of the first Soldier of the Month Award in his company.

In 1959, Ed took a position with Southwest Bank and holds the distinction of being the longest tenured employee. He was appointed President of Southwest Bank in 1976, a top position he held for 23 years. He continued to serve as an Advisory Board Member of Southwest Bank after his presidency. He retired in June of 2021 after working for the bank for 62 years. He was a national leader in the banking industry, serving as President of the American Institute of Banking. He was devoted to his community, and was instrumental in the development of many small businesses, especially on The Hill. More importantly, he invested in people, helping them acquire their family homes, their automobiles, their educations, and their careers, often with just a handshake.

Ed's generosity knew no bounds. His deep love and devotion for his mother compelled him to care for her at his home for three years until her passing from ALS. He gave unending support to his sisters, their children, and their grandchildren. He treasured his friends, meeting for weekly lunches, playing bocce, and visiting them in retirement communities, supporting them through their last days in any way he could.

Ed was a devout Catholic, a daily communicant, a Eucharistic minister and acolyte. He was an ardent supporter of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus religious community of nuns and was awarded their Legacy Award in 2017. He was also a humble recipient of the Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Award in appreciation and recognition of his lifetime of service to the Italian American community in Saint Louis. He donated his time, talent, and treasure throughout his life to innumerable Catholic organizations. Ed evangelized his faith by the holy life he lived and the kindness with which he treated everyone.

The family wishes to thank the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, the staff at St. Agnes Home, and Stefanie, Maurice, Samantha, and Jennifer for their loving care.

A visitation will be Wednesday, January 7 from 4-8pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa 63109. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 8 at 10am at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church, 5130 Wilson Avenue 63110. A Rite of Committal will take place immediately after at Resurrection Cemetery where Full Military Honors will be bestowed.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to The St Ambrose Society, the Sick and Elderly Program of the Hill, or St Agnes Home, would be greatly appreciated by his family.

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