ASHLEY FALLS, Mass. — Allan H. Bredenfoerder, 73, died suddenly at his home in Ashley Falls, Mass., on April 24, 2018.

Born on September 11, 1944, in Mariemont, Ohio, son of the late Howard W. and Marguerite L. Bredenfoerder. After graduating from Mariemont High School and Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., he went on to earn his master’s degree at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. 

He met his wife, Lin Gaskell, while working in a “coffeehouse ministry” in Falmouth, Mass.; they married in 1968. 

He taught in the Cincinnati school system at Cincinnati Country Day School, Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass., and Salisbury School in Salisbury, Conn. In 2002 he received Berkshire’s Seaver Buck Faculty Award for excellence in teaching and was named Senior Master in 2005. He retired after 45 years of teaching but continued to tutor students in math. In his 37 years at Berkshire he taught math, chaired the math department, and coached boys’ tennis. He worked with students in the outdoor program clearing trails, hiking, and canoeing. He also taught them to build bridges as well as a replica of Thoreau’s cabin and in the early spring he was part of the Maple Syrup squad. 

He sang in the church choir and the Housatonic barbershop group. He was a member of the Lift & Lunch Crunch Bunch at Berkshire South Community Center. He spent hours in the garden filling it with vegetables because “you can’t eat flowers.” He was devoted to his family, especially to his four grandchildren who all benefitted from his calm, steady presence and his ability to help them with their math homework.

He is survived by his wife, Lin; son Mark A. Bredenfoerder and wife Mary of Tolland, Mass.; daughter Karen Blodgett of Great Barrington; and grandchildren Samantha and Ryan Bredenfoerder and Connor and Sierra Blodgett. 

Funeral notice: A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church, 251 Main Street, Great Barrington, Mass., on May 19, 2018, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Berkshire School, Sheffield, Mass., the Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Squad, Great Barrington, Mass., or The Marfan Foundation c/o Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230, who is caring for the arrangements.