Rev. Douglas Berndt

05/27/2001

The Rev. Douglas James Berndt, 75, of 183 Fowler Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, former rector of St. George's Church in Lee and former vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd in South Lee, died Sunday at Maine Medical Center. Born in Springfield on Dec. 21, 1925, son of Fedor and Elsie Spitzer Berndt, he received his bachelor of arts degree from Boston University and his master of sacred theology degree from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University. He served in the Air Force during World War II and in the Army as a second lieutenant in the criminal investigation division. Mr. Berndt was ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church in 1953 and, during his 35-year active ministry, served parishes in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Tennessee. He was associate rector of St. George's Church in Nashville and rector of St. Paul's Church in Kingsport, both in Tennessee, where he served for 25 years. He also was active at the diocesan level. He was a master beekeeper and an accomplished micro mineralogist. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary and a fan of the Boston Red Sox. He and his wife, the former Susan Galliher, were married 52 years. Besides his wife, he leaves three sons, Ned Berndt of Miami, Lawrence Berndt of Cornish, N.H., and Jonathan Berndt of Cape Elizabeth; a daughter, Sarah B. Thomas of Corpus Christi, Texas; a sister, Susan Angell of South Portland, Maine; a brother, Fedor W. Berndt of Fitchburg, and several grandchildren. A Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated Friday at 9 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Portland, Maine, by the Rev. David Holroyd, interim rector, and the Rev. Gordon Hutchins, assisting clergyman. A memorial service will be conducted Friday at 11 at Trinity Episcopal Church by the Rev. Charles Karsten and the Rev. Frank D. Baker. The family will greet friends in the fellowship hall following this service. Interment will follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, South Portland, at a later date. Arrangements are made by HOBBS FUNERAL HOME in South Portland.

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Rev. Douglas Berndt

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