Gustav J. Berkel Jr.

03/15/2005

Gustav J. Berkel Jr., 88, of Mcgee Road died yesterday at home. He was a member and chairman of the Selectmen in Alford for many years. He spearheaded one of the earliest transfer-station and recycling efforts in the Berkshires in 1973, and also led an effort to fund the construction of the current Alford fire station. He also was a member of the Alford Police Department and was its chief for many years in the late 1970s. Born in Freeport, N.Y., on Nov. 17, 1916, son of Gustav J. Berkel Sr. and Jennie Rein Berkel, he graduated from high school there. He earned a bachelor of science degree in 1952 and a master's degree in business administration in 1955, both from Hofstra College. He moved to the Berkshires in 1966. An Army veteran of World War II, he served in the adjutant general's department and oversaw one of the Army's training schools, and classified soldiers entering the service, including several for the Manhattan Project. He was discharged as a captain. Mr. Berkel was employed for 37 years by Creole Petroleum Corp., a subsidiary of Exxon, beginning as an office boy at the then Standard Oil and retiring in 1974 as assistant treasurer and assistant corporate secretary. He continued to work as a part-time consultant for a number of years. A longtime volunteer firefighter, he was a member of Hose 4 in Freeport, the Islip Fire Department and the Alford Fire Department. He was selected by former Gov. Michael Dukakis to chair the Massachusetts Comprehensive Employment and Training Act Commission and served in the Silver-Haired Legislature, a shadow group that tracked issues for the elderly. He also was chairman of the South Berkshire Solid Waste Committee and the Berkshire County Manpower Advisory Council, and served on a number of civic and community boards. He also had raised Holsteins on his property on Crooked Hill Road in Alford and was a member of the national and New England Holstein Association. He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Church in Sheffield. He was a longtime member of the Wyantenuck Country Club, a member of the American Society of Corporate Secretaries, the Massachusetts Retired Chiefs of Police Association, and maintained an affiliation with the Berkshire County sheriff's office. His wife of 61 years, the former Elsie May Verity, whom he married July 10, 1941, died in 2002. He leaves eight sons, Peter Berkel of Sudbury, Paul Berkel of Norfolk, Timothy Berkel of Mobile, Ala., David Berkel of Lenox, Stephen Berkel of Alford, Thomas Berkel of Greenwich, Conn., Joseph Berkel of Oak Hill, Va., and John Berkel of Cranston, R.I.; two daughters, Janet Kilty of Cheshire and Nancy Van Deusen of Alford; two sisters, Althea MacDonald of Brewster and Joan Collings of Harwich; a brother, Robert Berkel of Stockbridge; 17 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- There will be calling hours on Friday, March 18, 2005, from 4 to 7 at BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME for those wishing to pay their respects. There will be a Memorial Mass for family and friends at 10 at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Sheffield on Saturday, March 19, with the Rev. John Lis, pastor, officiating. Following the Mass, Gus Berkel will be laid to rest beside his wife of 61 years, Elsie May Berkel, during a private family service in Alford. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to the Alford Fire Department or the Egremont Police Department, in care of the funeral home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230.

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