He was born in Keene, NH, August 6, 1928, the son of Napoleon George and Catherine (Fleming) Bergeron. He attended local schools and was a 1946 graduate of Keene High School.
He served from 1946 until 1948 in the 21st Regiment 24th division of the U.S. Army and participated in the occupation of Japan.
Following his military obligation, Mr. Bergeron received a Bachelor Degree in Education in 1952 from Keene State College, and completed his Master’s Degree from Keene State in 1957. He continued his studies at Boston University, the University of New Hampshire at Durham, and was working on his doctorate at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
He began his career in education in 1952 as a teaching principal with the Bartlett Elementary School in Goffstown, NH. In 1955, he returned to teach in Keene at the Wheelock Elementary School, and in 1957 he became principal of the school, a position he held until 1989. He was also an adjunct professor at Keene State College.
As an accomplished educator and principal, Mr. Bergeron received the Keene State College Medallion Award, the Keene State College Alumni Award, and was honored with the Wheelock School’s library being named the “George J. Bergeron Library”. Under his leadership, his staff received awards from the National Council of PTA’s, the NH Council of Better Schools and from the Sears Foundation.
He was also a life member of the National Association of Laboratory Schools and a life member of the American Legion Gordon Bissell Keene Post #4 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #799 of Keene. Mr. Bergeron served as past President of the New Hampshire Elementary School Principals, a life member of the National and New Hampshire PTA’s and a life member of the Association of School Principals. He was also a member of the City of Keene Planning Board, a lifetime parishioner of St. Bernard Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 819 of St. Bernard Church, Keene.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Priscilla M. (Devoid) Bergeron of Keene; four sons, David Bergeron and his wife, Sheilagh, of Northfield, NH, Thomas Bergeron and his wife, Leslie, of Mesa, AZ, James Bergeron and his wife, Cindy, of Penacook, NH, Richard Bergeron and his wife, Jodie, of Indianapolis, IN; a daughter, Judy Giguere and her husband, Steven, of Keene; eight grandchildren, Shayna Bergeron, Molly Riendeau, Abigail Bergeron, Desarae Bergeron, Emily Bergeron, Julia Bergeron, Evan Bergeron, Lucas Bergeron; a sister, Kathleen MacDonald of Manchester, CT; sister-in-law, Lorraine Trombley, of Keene, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Phyllis Rondeau.
A memorial mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, July 7, 2014 at 10:00AM in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street, Keene. There are no public calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mr. Bergeron’s memory to the Castle Center, 312 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH 03431, or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Mass. and New Hampshire Chapter, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472.
The Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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