[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 211 (Friday, January 3, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING FRANK BERTO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 3, 2020

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Frank Berto, 
who passed away on December 8, 2019, at the age of 90 after a lifetime 
of exemplary public service to his community.
  Born in 1929 in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Frank and Elsie 
Berto, Mr. Berto attended the University of British Columbia, 
graduating as a mechanical engineer. He soon started work for Standard 
Oil of New Jersey in Aruba where he met the love of his life, Connie. 
After marrying in 1956, the couple had their first daughter, Frances, 
and shortly thereafter moved to California where Mr. Berto obtained his 
Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the California 
Institute of Technology. Mr. Berto then began working for Standard Oil 
of California/Chevron where he spent the next 28 years rising through 
the ranks to become a senior staff instrument engineer.
  Finally settling in Marin County, CA, Mr. and Mrs. Berto would go on 
to have four more children: Joseph, Ben, Tom, and Louise. Mr. Berto 
quickly became active in their Sleepy Hollow community, serving as pool 
chairman, board member, and then president of the Sleepy Hollow Homes 
Association. He also spent 30 years on the Board of the Ross Valley 
Fire District and Paramedic Authority. A staunch advocate for proper 
fire and paramedic training, Mr. Berto served on the Sleepy Hollow Fire 
District Board for 32 years. He was also a scoutmaster for Sleepy 
Hollow Troup 50, leading several bicycle, kayak, and hiking trips. In 
addition to his public service roles, he also served as a lector for 
St. Rita's Church in Fairfax, California.
  In 1973, Mr. Berto started writing about his love of bicycles and 
engineering on a part-time basis for Bicycling magazine. Mr. Berto 
served as the magazine's engineering and west coast editor, writing 
over 160 articles for 19 different magazines in the United States and 
overseas, including re-writing the bicycle section in the Encyclopedia 
Britannica. Mr. Berto's passion for biking inspired him to present 
papers at several international bicycle history conferences and write 
four books on bicycles, two of which are considered definitive on the 
subject. After retirement, Mr. Berto enjoyed gardening, spending time 
with his grandchildren, and driving around Marin County in his 1916 
Model T Ford.
  Mr. Berto was a well-respected community leader who will be 
remembered for his generous spirit and commitment to public service. He 
is survived by his wife Connie, their children Joseph and his wife 
Dianne, Ben and his wife Marija, Tom and his wife Monica, and Louise 
and her husband Mack, and four grandchildren: Peter, Iris, John, and 
Alex. Mr. Berto was predeceased by his daughter Frances. While he will 
be greatly missed, Mr. Berto's legacy will live on through the 
indelible positive impact he had on his many friends and family and the 
community at large.

                          ____________________