U of C art prof also a decorated Vietnam veteran
History specialist taught 20,000 students in decades-long career
You might not think careers in the military and teaching art history go hand in hand, but the life of Dr. David Bershad was anything but textbook.
A longtime St. Mary’s University and University of Calgary professor, Bershad died Jan. 21 after a year-long battle with cancer led to heart failure.
While students said they remember Bershad as the professor who made the “monotonous” subject of Italian art interesting, they might not have known Bershad was also a decorated soldier, leading reconnaissance missions for the U.S. Marines in the jungles of Vietnam and even spending time as a prisoner of war.
Col. (Ret.) John Fletcher knew Bershad for nearly 40 years. He remembers his friend as a war hero and scholar.
“Quick as anything, a great sense of humour. He always identified himself with Sherlock Holmes. He could solve things, he could see things,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher said that he and Bershad often took shots at each other in good fun, adding “the War of 1812 was still going on” between the two former soldiers.
Fletcher said Bershad taught more than 20,000 students during his decades-long career, calling his late friend both a legendary professor and military officer.
“One of the most amazing profs I have ever had the privilege to meet,” one of Bershad’s students wrote for his obituary. “Kind, understanding and exceptionally fair. The rest of U of C could learn from him.”
In 2010, Bershad was one of 13 people tasked with analyzing a painting believed to be a newly discovered self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci. At the time, Bershad initially agreed with the rest of the experts that the painting was a Leonardo original.
The lone historian on a panel full of scientists, Bershad reversed his decision after discovering conflicting reports about the painting’s origin, which remains a mystery.
Before volunteering for military service, Bershad had a love for Leonardo and Renaissance art.
Accepted to Stanford University at only 14 years old, Bershad travelled to Rome for his doctoral research but returned to the U.S. to train as an officer, rising to the rank of captain in the United States Marine Corps.
Bershad was decorated many times for bravery and leadership in combat, and received some of the highest awards granted by the U.S. for military service, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, a Navy Commendation and four Purple Hearts.
Bershad was awarded the Legion of Merit while on a mission with American and Vietnamese special operations soldiers. After parachuting into enemy territory, Bershad found himself in command of the unit after their Vietnamese leader was mortally wounded.
“He delivered effective suppressive fire with his automatic weapon in order to divert the attack long enough to allow the casualties to be evacuated,” a military citation on the incident read.
“A frogman, a paratrooper — the elite of the elite,” Fletcher said.
A wake will be held for Bershad at St. Mary’s University on Thursday. The public is welcome to attend.