1936 – 2019
Woodstock – Paul Daniel Berk, Jr., 82, died Thursday (February 7, 2019) at his home in Woodstock after an extended illness. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family.
Paul Jr. was born July 18, 1936 in Fullerton, PA and was the son of the late Paul and Alda (Meckes) Berk. In 1941 when Paul Jr. was five years old, the family moved to Connecticut when his father Paul D. Berk Sr. accepted a position as an experimental test pilot for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. Paul Jr. resided and went to school in West Hartford and Wethersfield where he graduated from Wethersfield High School in 1954. He excelled in athletics in his student years and went on to letter in soccer for the University of Connecticut Huskies. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from UConn in 1960 and was a lifelong Huskies fan.
Paul Jr. also shared his father’s love for flying and enlisted in the US Air Force officer candidate school program as a pilot candidate in 1958. Paul Jr. loved flying with his father, and he talked fondly about the times they would fly to Long Island to land and have a cup of coffee and then take off and navigate their way to any other New England spot they wanted to visit that day before returning to Brainard Field.
Paul Jr. went on to build a long and successful career as a human resource professional, working for several large corporations until his retirement.
Mr. Berk enjoyed raising his family in the quiet corner of Woodstock and was very involved in his boys’ activities, including a youth basketball program he co-founded as well as the Woodstock Little League. He delighted in watching his boys and grandchildren build things and compete in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in life in general. He loved working on outdoor projects with his family. Paul was a longtime member of the Woodstock Lions Club and he also re-certified as a pilot and flew with the 43rd Flying Club. In his retirement years Paul enjoyed occasional cruise vacations with his wife Kathy and he especially treasured time shared with his loved ones at the family cottage in the Berkshires.
Mr. Berk is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Lannon) of Woodstock; three sons, Daniel and Jennifer Berk of Woodstock, Brian and Deborah Berk of Wake Forest, NC, and William and Andria Berk of Sherborn, MA; two sisters, Eileen Perry of Simsbury and Shirley Vallieres of East Hampton; a brother, Gary Berk of Portland. He also has six grandchildren, Patrick and Trisha Berk of Woodstock; Trevor and Dylan Berk of Wake Forest, NC; and Eddie and Charlie Berk of Sherborn, MA.
Visitation will take place at the Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St. in Putnam on Sunday February 10th, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday, February 11th, at 1:00 p.m. at the Gilman Funeral Home, followed by burial at the Elmvale Cemetery on Roseland Park Road in Woodstock. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 110 Conn Ter., Lexington, KY 40508. For memorial guestbook please visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.
Sandra & Peter DiVincenzo
Dear Kathy and family,
Peter and I are so sorry to hear of Paul’s passing.
We are presently in Florida and unable to attend the services,. We have fond memories of our Woodstock years with our boys’ athletic events, etc.
Our sincere sympathy to you and your dear family.
Nick & Diand Botsacos
Gary, Karen and all of the Berk Family, we are so sorry to hear of Paul passing. Diane and I send our love and will keep you and Paul in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely
Nick and Diane Botsacos
Jane Duffany
Kathy: I am very sorry to hear of your husband’s passing. I hope you find comfort in your memories.
In Sympathy,
Jane Duffany
Lexy Clancy
Dearest Berk Family,
We are so very sorry to hear of Paul’s passing. The Obituary is so beautifully written. He lived such a good life.
May you all find comfort and peace
Love to this beautiful family, and to our friends, Gary and Karen.
Jack and Lexy Clancy
Mary Vollentine
So so sorry for your loss. We enjoyed him so much when we went to the lake. Know he will be with you forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Dave Alton
Dearest Berk Family,
My family and I would like to extend our deepiest condolence to you in this time of loss.
Dave and Sue Alton
Jay Campbell
Dear Berk Family,
So sorry to hear about Paul’s passing. He lived a great life and has a great family to show for it. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sharon Vincelette
Dear Kathy, Danny, Brian, and Billy
I’m so sorry for your loss. I have wonderful memories of our time at the lake with all of the kids and Gram and Poppy. Hope you find comfort within each other. Sharon
Sharon Vincelette
Dear Kathy, Danny, Brian and Billy
I was so sorry about Uncle Paul. We had wonderful times at the lake with all of the kids and Gram and Poppy. I hope being together will comfort you all. Sharon
Sharon
Dear Kathy, Dan, Brian and Billy,
I am very sorry for your loss. I remember the wonderful times we had up at the lake with Grammy and Poppy and all the kids together. You are in my prayers.
Best,
Sharon
Sharon Vincelette
Kathy, Dan, Brian and Billy,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I have so many happy memories of Grammy, Poppy and all of the kids up at the lake. Your family is my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Sharon
Liz seifel
I worked with Paul at Allstate ins for many years. A wonderful friend. So sorry Kathy. . Liz Mirkin seifel
Kirt and Donna Lundy
Gary, Karen and Family,
We are so sorry to learn of Paul’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. He was a lovely man and always so gracious to everyone who visited with you folks at the lake house. He will be missed.
Kirt and Donna Lundy and Family
Jack and Rosemary Diamond
Dear Kathy and family,
Jack and I are so sorry to hear of your loss. Jack and Paul had been friends sine high school. He will be missed
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Liz seifel
I worked with Paul at Allstate many years ago. . A wonderful friend. Kathy, so sorry for your loss. Liz Mirkin Seifel
Nathan Berk
Dear Kathy, Danny, Brian, Billy and families: We are so sorry for your loss. May our dear Lord give you strength and support at this sad time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep all the good memories of Paul in your hearts. We always enjoyed his visits to Pa. God bless all of you. Love Sandy and Nate Berk
Henry
Please accept my condolences for the passing of Paul. There is hope though, as the Almighty has arranged for the resurrection in the future. He promises, “… There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15)
I hope you find these few words comforting and provide motivation to prepare for the new world of God’s making. (John 17:3)
Sheila Brasile
Karen and Gary. So sorry for your loss. A sad time but I am sure he will be watching over you and family
Sheila & Steve
Jim Spencer
Kathy and family, So sorry to learn of your loss. Our deepest condolences to you all. Jim & Ann Spencer
MARC h JAMES
This may seem a strange message but life can be that way. My name is Marc James and I never knew Paul, JR. I did have the honor of knowing (briefly) Paul, SR. I became a professional pilot in 1979 and retired in 2004. In 1980, I was flying for a part 135 operator out of Brainerd Field and flying skydivers at CPI in Ellington on weekends. One day, the club president says to me, “I want you to meet this guy who wants to do some flying here.” He points out this short, older fellow and I say. “are you sure?” (what do you expect from a 30 year old, know it all pilot?!) I go and meet this guy and he is very nice and very modest. He flies the Cessna 182 just fine. If the jumpers want to put up more than 4 jumpers, we had to do it as a formation of 2 182’s. There was another pilot who owned his airplane and leased it to the club. The only way I could fly his wing was to get above and out of his sight, otherwise he was all over the sky and it was a nightmare. The first time that I flew formation with Paul, Sr. I had him fly the lead and I flew his wing. He was rock solid and it was a piece of cake! The heavier a/c flew the lead and the lighter one flew wing. The next time we did this, I was heavier. I flew lead and Paul had the wing. All the way to altitude, I had his right landing gear in my left rear window. He was just there as if we were connected. I had never seen such precise, smooth formation flying!!
Slowly, I found out more about his background and it wasn’t until I found his obituary that I learned about his jet flying. (not completely true, he only told me about flying the B-52 test bed for the 747 JT-9 engine.) He told me about testing the Pratt powered Corsairs and that they would not let him enlist for combat because he was essential to the war effort. Then he told me he had been to Edwards/Muroc and he “knew” the legends like Kinchelow and Crossfield. Not only is he the best pilot I’ve ever flown the wing on but he is part of the legendary brotherhood!
In 1981 I moved to ATL to start flying Lear Jets and my career moved on to Boeing 737, 727, 757 and 767. I never got to see Paul again but he had an influence on my career.
I’m sorry for both of your losses. Blue skies Paul and Paul.
Marc James