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Four generations of the Berl family are UD grads
4:33 p.m., Jan. 6, 2007--When Zachary (Zach) Berl donned his cap and gown and walked on stage to receive his degree from UD at Winter Commencement, he was continuing a 75-year, four-generation, family tradition of loyal Blue Hens. The Berl family tree of UD graduates begins with Zach's great-grandparents, John and Margaret Beck Roman, who graduated in 1932 and 1933, respectively, and attended the then separate Men's and Women's Colleges at the University. John, who was captain of both the men's baseball and basketball teams as an undergraduate, taught and coached at William Penn High School for many years before entering the real estate and insurance business. Branching out to the next generation, Zach's grandparents are Richard Berl, AS '53, and alumna Joan Roman Berl, who met at a Sigma Nu fraternity party for freshman girls. Joan left UD after her sophomore year to marry Richard in 1953, the day after his last class before going into the Army. Later, Richard joined his father-in-law in the real estate and insurance business, which became Roman and Berl before it was sold to another company. According to Richard, both he and Joan are “avid Blue Hen supporters” and have had season football tickets for the past 40 years. UD was the school of choice for Richard's generation. His older brother, the late William Berl III, graduated in 1950 and another brother, John, attended the University for two years. William's daughter, Barbara Berl Hoover, graduated in 1980 with a degree in nursing. The family tree of UD graduates expanded during the next generation. Zach's father, C. Michael Berl, is a 1981 business graduate, currently a vice president with CitiBank and lives in Florida. Michael's brother, Richard E. Berl Jr., AS '76, a partner in Smith, O'Donnell, Procino & Berl law firm, and his wife, Sheree Jones Berl, who received her nursing degree in 1979, are Double Dels and have a son, Richard E. Berl III, who is a sophomore at Delaware in the University Honors Program. Another brother, Kenneth R. Berl, AS '87, is a vice president at Bank of America, and their sister, Kimberly, who is a nurse, attended Delaware for three years and is taking continuing education courses to complete her degree. Zach, the first of the fourth generation of Berls to graduate, is a criminal justice major with a minor in philosophy. He graduated from Middletown High School and chose Delaware, he said, because of its excellent reputation and because he wanted to remain in the area. During his undergraduate years, he said he was busy maintaining his grades, being with new and old friends, playing the guitar and working out in the gym. An animal lover, he also worked at Concord Pet Foods and Supplies “to pay the bills.” Zach took law-related courses at UD and is applying to become a law clerk upon graduation and said he is considering attending law school in the future. Article by Sue Moncure |
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