Bob Berger, ski instructor after computer career, 1931-2005

Bob Berger, who worked in computers before retiring to teach skiing in Vail, died March 7. He was 73. Berger was born in 1931 to Ida and Ernest Berger in Brooklyn, N.Y. He married his wife, Joan, in 1952. Berger graduated from New York University in 1953 and began a 35-year career in the computer business, working for Univac on some of the world’s first computers, friends and family members said. He later worked for General Electric in Sunnyvale, Calif. and ultimately, for Honeywell.

Berger, his wife and three sons lived in Italy, England, Mexico, New York, California, Massachusetts and Minnesota over a 20-year period. Friends and family members say he took great enjoyment in experiencing different cultures. Upon retiring in 1987, Berger moved to Vail and taught skiing with the Vail and Beaver Creek ski school. He worked out of Golden Peak from 1989 to 2002. Berger was an active volunteer with organizations such as Bravo! The Vail Valley Music Festival and the Eagle County animal shelter. He also volunteered at the 1989 and 1999 Alpine ski championships and regularly participated in town of Vail cleanups.

Berger’s greatest pleasures were skiing, tennis, hiking and wine-making, friends and family members say. Berger is survived by his wife, Joan of East Vail; sons Peter of Brimson, Minn., Andy of East Vail and Paul of Boulder, Colo.; and two grandchildren, Asa and Siri of Boulder. A celebration of life memorial is scheduled for April 3 at the Donovan Pavilion in West Vail, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information contact Andy Berger at 476-5416 or andyberger@aol.com.

Vail, Colorado