(1942-2016)
“Pete” left this world on July 7th at the San Diego VA hospital; he was 73. He was preceded in death by his parents Peter Sr. and Angeline Berdzar, brother Bill Berdzar, sister Margaret (Marge) Beyer, and brother-in-law Fred Beyer. He will be dearly missed by his four sons: Cleave Berdzar and wife Tara, granddaughters Avalon and Solana of Fort Collins, CO; Iain Berdzar and wife Kristy of Cortez, CO; Loren Berdzar and wife Jamie whom is expecting in December, granddaughter Leah of Winnemucca, NV; Colin Berdzar and wife Nikki, granddaughter Breckyn of Dolores, CO. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Diane Berdzar of Eugene, OR, niece Mischelle Berdzar of Portland, OR, nephew Bill Berdzar Jr. of Eugene, OR, nephew Fred Beyer of Venice, FL, nephew Ryan Beyer of Port Charlotte, FL, his beloved caregiver Josie Grunseth of San Diego, CA and many close friends.
Peter was born in Chicago, IL on November 10, 1942. In 1967 he graduated from Southern Illinois University and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He entered Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL in December 1967. After soloing in the T-34, T-28 and TF-9J, he was assigned to VT-21 as the Check Crew Branch Officer. In 1969 he volunteered for the Navy diving program and graduated from the Naval School of Diving and Salvage as a mixed-gas Diving Officer. He requested duty in Vietnam and was assigned to Harbor Clearance Unit-1, responsible for the salvage of US Navy craft in the Delta and the U Minh region of South Vietnam. During this tour, Captain Berdzar was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and Combat Action Ribbon. He served as the Executive Officer and Engineering Officer of Harbor Clearance Unit-1 until his departure from active duty in 1972. He joined the Naval Reserve in 1974 and served as the Commanding Officer of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One Detachment 419 in San Diego from 1986 through 1989. He served as the civilian diving officer at SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific from 1974 through 1999. He retired from government service in 1999 and continued to pursue his hobby of collecting hard hat diving helmets and researching the history and science of diving. Captain Berdzar was an active member of Disabled American Veterans and the Navy Divers Association.
Peter was active in the Ramona Recreational Youth Baseball and Soccer Leagues, through the 1980s, coaching his sons’ teams when they were young. He was also an avid rock hound and took his sons hiking and exploring southern California and Mexico, where they enjoyed collecting fossils, tourmalines, garnets, and quartz crystals. Peter was an excellent communicator. He loved phone calls, letters to his family, and visits from his family and friends. He was a dear friend to many.
There will be a two-day viewing at Glenn Abbey Mortuary in Bonita, CA on Thursday July 21 and Friday July 22 from 5:00-9:00pm. A funeral Mass is scheduled at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in San Diego, CA on Saturday July 23 at 10:00am. Condolences may also be sent to www.glenabbeysandiego.com. Peter will receive military honors when his remains are committed to the Pacific Ocean, which he loved so much. Fair winds and following seas to you, Captain Peter Berdzar (retired).
