Bert was a proud and passionate man with a quirky sense of humor and a contagious laugh. He was raised in a small rural town in Indiana, where he enjoyed boating, camping, working on cars, and marksmanship. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, reaching the rank of Eagle Scout. During his senior year at North Vermillion High School in Cayuga, he enlisted in the United States Navy under the Delayed Entry Program, reporting for boot camp at the end of the summer that followed graduation.
He served in the Navy for twenty years as a Missile Fire Control Technician aboard Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines, repairing and maintaining the computers used to target and launch the missiles. He proudly achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer while on shore duty as an instructor at Naval Guided Missile School, Dam Neck, Virginia. Although he retired from active duty in 1996, he always spoke highly of his years of service, recounting the events as if they just happened yesterday.
He gave his all in every aspect of his life. He could fix about anything, loved barbecuing, was down to earth, approachable, personable, and he had an inspiring way of building a team. Bert and Deb were married for forty years, and he was immensely proud of their life together and their two beautiful and strong daughters, Stephanie and Katherine. He was respected, admired, and loved by just about everyone who knew him.
Bert also loved space! He could talk endlessly about the space program with infectious enthusiasm. Born only six months before the US launched Explorer 1, he grew up with a passion for learning everything he could and watching with awe as each mission brought us closer to putting men on the moon.
Anyone who knew Bert would easily respond if asked what his favorite television show was - Star Trek, of course! He knew every episode by heart and would watch them repeatedly at any, and every, opportunity! We couldn’t think of a better way to honor him than to send him to deep space in the company of the Star Trek creator and family.
