Richard Bergamini Obituary

Richard Bergamini
June 24, 1931 - January 4, 2022
Resident of Alamo, CA
Richard Bergamini died January 4, 2022, in his Alamo home of fifty-seven years, while looking out at his beloved backyard and the lush hills of the Las Trampas Range. The son of Northern Italian immigrants and grandson of Croation Immigrants, all coal miners, he was born in Washington state, in the rural town of Ronald, east of Seattle in the Cascades and was raised in Cle Elum, just two towns away. This area forged Richard's identity of family, deep friendships, community, and a strong work ethic.
At age 16, he spent a long summer alone on a US Forest Service mountaintop watching for signs of forest fires. It was here that he developed his lifelong love of music when his shortwave radio captured nightly frequencies of music coming from New York City. He loved working with the forest service for fourteen summers, until 1962. He often told the story of fighting a fire in the Snake River gorge and riding mules down the steep narrow trails to the bottom. Being a depression baby and devoted to family, he always had a job to help make ends meet.
He graduated from Cle Elum High in 1949, while managing a variety of the school's athletic teams, then went to Central Washington University in 1953. He served in the Army's counter intelligence division in Stuttgart, Germany, until 1955, and in 1958 earned his Masters Degree from Columbia University in New York City. After obtaining his Masters Degree, he taught for a year in Yonkers, NY, and then returned to the West Coast, eventually coming to California. Here he became a teacher, counselor, child-welfare & attendance consultant and finally a principal, all in the Mount Diablo Unified School District. He was a mentor to many.
He retired in 1990, although continued to work for over twenty years in post-retirement positions for the school district. He also began an active life in the California Retired Teachers Association, Diablo Vista Division 52, serving as Division President from 1993-95, and held a variety of leadership roles at both the local and state levels. In 2004, he was recognized for his commitment and received the Laura E. Settle Merit Award, the highest award Division 52 bestows to its outstanding members. It is likely, however, his favorite role was serving as song leader at the monthly luncheons, as music was a large part of his heart and soul.
Another important part of Richard's life included traveling, exploring his Italian background and being a student of the Italian language for many, many years! Speaking Italian gave him joy, and he loved speaking it to anyone whenever he got the chance ….. be they Italian or not. He enjoyed a good jigsaw puzzle, Giants baseball (when they won), cooking/BBQ'n, and a good glass of red wine.
Richard Fausto Bergamini will be remembered for his outreach to friends and strangers alike. His infectious laughter filled a room, drawing people to him. The love for his Alamo home and for his family, were central to who he was, and he was happiest just hanging around the house with family, and if friends stopped by, well… that was a bonus. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty years , Jan, his two sons David and Christopher, his only grandchild Tanner "T" Bergamini, his sister Irene Dorich of Selah, WA, nieces, nephews, second cousins and a multitude of good friends & neighbors. He will be deeply missed, and we are all better for having had such a strong, compassionate and loving man as a part of our lives. Donations may be made in Richard Bergamini's honor to The Diablo Vista Retired Teachers Association, PO Box 4292, Walnut Creek, CA 94596.


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