Roman M. Bergier

Roman Mitchell Bergier Beloved Roman Mitchell Bergier, at age 66, of Madison Heights, MI, who passed away at 3:03 am on 4-12-2016, was born at 9:20 pm on 10-18-1949, at Providence Hospital, Detroit, MI, to Roman Thomas Bergier and Petronella “Nellie” Bergier. Roman developed left lung cancer, which was diagnosed on 1-7-2015, at Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak. Although it was by then already at stage 4, inoperable and an atypical cancer he was treated by new genetically profiled cancer treatment drugs, Tarceva then Tagrisso. He was readmitted to Beaumont on 3-29-2016 with atrial fibrillation, where he spent the last 2 weeks of his life. Under the excellent care of Dr. Iqbal Boxwala, an Oncologist with the associated Rose Cancer Center, Roman had an extra 16 months of being well enough, most of that time, to visit family and friends, including 11 days in California around his birthday. It was a gift to be able to get many things accomplished with this “borrowed” time, including selling his mother’s house in Traverse City and an acre outside of Nevada City, CA, which he and Kim bought on 5-17-2004. Roman is survived by his widow, Kim Joy Bergier (married 12-12-1998); brother, Steve Bergier (Melissa); sister, Sue Parkhurst; son, Stephen C. Bergier; daughter, Katherine “Kate” Johnson; grandsons Michael Bergier and Alek Mullins; nephews Jeffrey Bergier and David Grunow, Jr.; nieces Nikki Grunow, Lindsey Bergier and Stefanie Dapper; great-nephew Tanner Grunow; great-nieces Brook and Lauren Grunow, plus many cousins. Roman was a highly skilled Journeymen Carpenter by trade mostly doing commercial finishing work, like cabinets in hospitals. To name a few of the more famous locations he worked as Foreman on the pavilion for Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Hamtramck 9-19-1987; the Ford CEO’s headquarters; the lobby at Dearborn Hyatt Regency and several restaurants at the Detroit McNamara Airport. After a couple of years at Oakland Community College, he developed his skills as an apprentice on Detroit’s landmark Renaissance Center, and co-owned a commercial carpentry contracting business, F.B.K. Associates Inc., for 12 years. Some main activities Roman enjoyed included riding his BMW motorcycle (over 150,000 miles), especially during a 7 months trip across U.S. visiting every State (except AK and FL) plus across Canada. Highlighted trips included driving across the States with Stephen and Kate, then with his mother, Nellie. He also took his 2 children to Mexico and really enjoyed Oahu for a couple of weeks with family, in April 2011. He loved driving his Star-Craft motorboat, sharing that with people, especially on Lake St. Clair, MI and Bullard’s Bar Reservoir, near Camptonville, CA. When given the time he would prefer to drive back roads and thus loved exploring. He loved driving race cars so had rented a red convertible Porsche for around 5 years. Then during his last trip to California his birthday gift to himself was to splurge on renting a red convertible Chevy so he and Kim could drive along the Pacific Crest Trail. He loved watching Formula 1 races so shared that with Kim in Indianapolis, IN, in 2006. Though he loved being spontaneous and silly, he was very responsible regarding financial matters and especially valued arriving on time. He was a self-taught and very talented handy-man, able to figure out how to fix most anything from within the home to vehicles and computers. He enjoyed cooking, especially for others, so was an excellent chef. Having had aquariums most of his life he left an 80 gallon complex salt water aquarium with 8 fish and other marine/reef life. “Romie”, as his cousins called him, loved an eclectic variety of music, video games and watching an eclectic variety of TV shows (especially science, space, news and how to make things). He was very intelligent having started kinder garden at age 5 and testing exceptionally high on spatial concepts. You are invited to A Celebration of Roman’s Life, on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19th, from 3 to 6 pm at Lake St. Clair Metropark. This memorial will include a potluck supper, based around Polish food around 5 pm. Non-alcoholic drinks please. Dress: colorful, nice and casual. Though Romie was secular, with interest in Zen Buddhism, thus not a church goer, as much of his extended family are Catholic there will be around 15 minute spiritual service. Romie had a quick and great sense of humor, so anyone reading this who knew him is invited to share what they remember in writing to Kim at [email protected]." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[email protected]. You are invited to share verbally jokes, “Romanisms” or stories, plus music and pictures. Between 7 to 9 pm (latest 10 pm) dessert with showing of videos of some highlights of Roman’s life, plus further sharings, at Ron and Laura Smith’s. Their house is less than 10 miles west with a map being provided for those who RSVP to Kim about this. Contributions to honor Roman may be made to: 1) 1) Eversight Michigan where his eyes were donated for corneal transplant or research. Eversight Michigan, 4889 Venture Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48108 or www.eversightvision.org/michigan 2) 2) Caring Bridge, which, since 2-1-2015, has helped Kim reach many family and friends. (As Roman was private this is by invitation only so contact Kim if you want to read what happened and see photos.) www.caringbridge.org 3) 3) Kim to help cover some of Roman’s final unexpected expenses 4) 4) a charity of your choice, in his name Although his body was cremated on 4-16-16, by Neptune Society, with no, viewing, or funeral, most of his ashes are stored, at Christian Memorial Cemetery, 521 E. Hamlin Road, Rochester, MI. For more information including more about A Celebration of Roman’s Life, contact Kim P.S. March 29th to 31st Roman’s room-mate in Beaumont Hospital North 8627 happened to be another Roman! The other Roman’s last name was Gribbs, who had been Mayor of Detroit and died April 5th! www.legacy.com/obituaries/freep/obituary.aspx?n=roman-s-gribbs&pid=179543552 One of my classmates from Woodstock School, India, whose husband died of cancer, this last December, shared a meaningful quote from Rabindranath Tagore: "Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." Kim Joy Bergier 25720 Miracle Drive Madison Heights, MI 48071-4111 [email protected] Home: 248-545-1862 Cell: 248-515-2380 ?