Harriet Berg

Jan 9, 1925 - Dec 5, 2020

Longtime Berkeley resident Harriet Berg died on December 5th, a month shy of her 96th birthday. She was born in New York to an immigrant mother and an American- born father, who was himself the son of immigrants.

Harriet graduated from Queens College in 1947, two years after marrying Irving Berg, who was starting his psychiatry residency at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. Harriet earned a master’s in education from the University of Chicago. In 1954, the Bergs moved to Berkeley and later bought their beloved William Wurster home, where Harriet would remain for the rest of her life.

Harriet began her lengthy teaching career in the mid1960s at Peres Elementary School in Richmond and later taught at nearby Washington School. She loved her job and was a dedicated teacher. After retiring, Harriet volunteered in the West Contra Costa School District into her seventies.

Harriet loved the arts and nature. She was an avid reader, especially of literature. She and Irving attended the opera with dear friends, and she attended both the San Francisco and Berkeley symphonies. Mahler was among her favorite composers. She was also a patron of several regional theater companies. Hiking and swimming in lakes, rivers and the ocean were high on her list.

Food was central to Harriet and she was an excellent cook. She hosted dinner parties for friends, who like her, enjoyed meaningful discussions on all manner of topics and sharing good jokes. As Harriet reached her nineties, by then widowed for two decades, she continued to cook for her family and grandchildren. Laughter and discussion were shared as well as meals.

Harriet was deeply engaged with her grandchildren, whom she adored and whose adoration was reciprocated. Fiercely independent, Harriet was sharp, pragmatic, warm, and loving. She will be missed by her children, Kathie ( Michael), Amy ( Hugh), and David ( Karen); five grandchildren, Ashley ( Adam), Will ( Yelena), Ethan ( Jessica), Erin ( Matthew), and Caleb ( Tayleigh); and five greatgrandsons, Liam, Wolf, Hudson, Francis, and Irving. A memorial will be planned once the pandemic has eased.