Wilfred H. Berman, 1936-2003

  The Rev. W.H. "Bill" Berman passed away on Nov. 4, 2003. He is survived by his son and daughter, four siblings and nieces and nephews and their families — all of whose lives he enriched. Bill was born in 1936 in Muskegon, Michigan. His family owned a weekly newspaper and he wrote for most of his life, first in weekly papers in Michigan, then for the daily newspapers in Honolulu and for his last 15 years as a pastor. He was just short of 50 when he entered Wesley Seminary in Washington D.C. Bill served as the chaplain at Randolph-Macon Academy from 1988 to the early ’90s. He went on to serve as pastor of Round Hill United Methodist Church from December 1992 to June 1996. Illness forced him to retire in 1996, but he continued to help and inspire others through a web page dealing with his theology and Creation-Centered Spirituality. Bill was often willing to tackle issues others might avoid. He believed all Christians are called to care for one another and to hold individualism and social concerns in balance. As one of his parishioners said, "He taught many of us to view God’s people and His ways in a very different, more understanding way. We are better people for having known him."