In Memoriam, A Tribute To A Loved One
Winged Foot Golf Club
Michael J. Berkeley"He was the spectrum of a man"
One of the most revered men of American literature, Ralph Waldo Emerson, said in his poem,
IN MEMORIAM, A TRIBUTE TO A LOVED ONE
Born for success he seemed,
With grace to win, with heart to hold,
With shining gifts that took all eyes.
Three lines, just twenty words - but could anything more aptly describe the young American we have honored so lovingly since September 11th, as Michael J. Berkeley?
I think not, because he was indeed born for success, destined for it, and the beauty of his life is that he attained it in so many ways. We don't have to define success when we speak of this fine person who Michael was, and still is in the hearts of us who knew him. He personified it, standing as more than an example - he was a symbol, a model of what the American Dream has come to be and mean to the world in this new day that has come to pas since he was taken from us almost one year ago as we write this. A gifted man, he made his own "shining gifts" a gift to others - a legacy that goes on.
I speak of him also when we first knew him as a caddie at Winged Foot Golf Club, 12 years old. Yes, 12. I emphasize his age at that point because the young people who provide this service for golfers are so special. This says so much about how we love his memory at Winged Foot - caddying for us for eight years. He was the first to win our fine Gene Hayden Outstanding Caddy Award, achieving this while starring both academically and athletically at Iona Prep - not an easy achievement for anyone, considering the fine contenders there are for this honor.
Graduating with honors from Providence College in 1986, he went to Columbia University's Business School earning his MBA in 1987, with his sights on Wall Street. After serving with both Salomon Brothers and Merrill Lynch he founded his own firm, the Berkeley Group, focusing on securities brokerage, private equity investments and various golf course developments, the latter reflecting his love for the game of golf. Success was indeed his, destined, as we say above, but the great joy in his life was his beautiful family - wife Lourdes Perez, and sons Eric and Jason. "We shall not see his likes again," someone once said in the eulogy to a famous man, but can we say of Michael J. Berkeley we hope we shall see his likes again. Because our country, indeed, the world needs the likes of him today as never before.
To those who knew him, Michael will be remembered as the spectrum of a man, and of him we can easily write: Blessed are the loyal, they are true blue. Blessed are workers, they have the red blood of vitality. Blessed are the cheerful, their kitchens are bright yellow. Blessed are the thoughtful, they dwell in a brown study. Blessed are the clean-minded, their comments are always pure. Blessed are the quiet ones, their silences are golden. Blessed are the encouragers, they speak with silver tongues. Blessed are the noble of purpose, they wear the royal purple. Blessed are the tranquil, they walk in green pastures. What a colorful thing is a man - a man like Michael J. Berkeley.