5/21/11

Death of a Classmate - Maurice R.(Pat) Berdan, 1st Co.


Our classmate Cdr Maurice R.(Pat) Berdan,CEC, USN passed away on May 18,2011 after a short illness. He is survived by his wife Janee Gay, two daughters-  Merilee Whalen and Lisa Berdan, two granddaughters - Krista and Carolyn Whalen and Merilee's husband Chuck Whalen. Pat is also survived by the multitude of friends he amassed because he was a great gentleman and loyal friend to all. 

After graduation, Pat spent almost three years on sea duty before attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree and transferred to the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC). Duty assignments in the CEC took Pat and his family to Hawaii, Florida, Virginia, Louisiana and Annapolis, Maryland, where he was the Assistant Public Works Officer.. Pat had an unaccompanied tour in Danang, SVN in the late 1960's. Pat also attended the University of Rochester where he earned an MBA. Upon retirement from the Navy, in 1975, Pat was appointed Director of Public Works for the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts. Pat's design, construction and implementation of an Award Winning recycling facility was highly regarded and served as model for many other municipalities within North America.. Pat retired from the Director's position in 1996. Since then he spent his time with family, restoring old furniture and on the Internet.

Pat's remains will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. 

Expressions of sympathy may be made in Pat's memory to the Fisher House Foundation, Inc 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 2085  Internet address:  www.fisherhouse.org.

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