Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING FRANK BERTO
______
HON. JARED HUFFMAN
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, January 3, 2020
Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Frank Berto,
who passed away on December 8, 2019, at the age of 90 after a lifetime
of exemplary public service to his community.
Born in 1929 in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Frank and Elsie
Berto, Mr. Berto attended the University of British Columbia,
graduating as a mechanical engineer. He soon started work for Standard
Oil of New Jersey in Aruba where he met the love of his life, Connie.
After marrying in 1956, the couple had their first daughter, Frances,
and shortly thereafter moved to California where Mr. Berto obtained his
Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the California
Institute of Technology. Mr. Berto then began working for Standard Oil
of California/Chevron where he spent the next 28 years rising through
the ranks to become a senior staff instrument engineer.
Finally settling in Marin County, CA, Mr. and Mrs. Berto would go on
to have four more children: Joseph, Ben, Tom, and Louise. Mr. Berto
quickly became active in their Sleepy Hollow community, serving as pool
chairman, board member, and then president of the Sleepy Hollow Homes
Association. He also spent 30 years on the Board of the Ross Valley
Fire District and Paramedic Authority. A staunch advocate for proper
fire and paramedic training, Mr. Berto served on the Sleepy Hollow Fire
District Board for 32 years. He was also a scoutmaster for Sleepy
Hollow Troup 50, leading several bicycle, kayak, and hiking trips. In
addition to his public service roles, he also served as a lector for
St. Rita's Church in Fairfax, California.
In 1973, Mr. Berto started writing about his love of bicycles and
engineering on a part-time basis for Bicycling magazine. Mr. Berto
served as the magazine's engineering and west coast editor, writing
over 160 articles for 19 different magazines in the United States and
overseas, including re-writing the bicycle section in the Encyclopedia
Britannica. Mr. Berto's passion for biking inspired him to present
papers at several international bicycle history conferences and write
four books on bicycles, two of which are considered definitive on the
subject. After retirement, Mr. Berto enjoyed gardening, spending time
with his grandchildren, and driving around Marin County in his 1916
Model T Ford.
Mr. Berto was a well-respected community leader who will be
remembered for his generous spirit and commitment to public service. He
is survived by his wife Connie, their children Joseph and his wife
Dianne, Ben and his wife Marija, Tom and his wife Monica, and Louise
and her husband Mack, and four grandchildren: Peter, Iris, John, and
Alex. Mr. Berto was predeceased by his daughter Frances. While he will
be greatly missed, Mr. Berto's legacy will live on through the
indelible positive impact he had on his many friends and family and the
community at large.
____________________