Florie Berger, resident of Palo Alto, passed away September 10, 2010 at the age of 74. She was born in New Jersey to Rose and Sam Horowitz on October 31, 1935. Florie attended school in Maplewood New Jersey, and received advanced degrees from Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley and Yale University. On December 21, 1956 she married Joseph Berger, a private practice attorney. They moved to Palo Alto, CA in the early 1960's, where she and Joe shared 53 years until his death on April 10, 2009. Florie was passionate about her career as a research librarian and classics scholar. In May of this year, she retired as Professor Emerita at San Jose State University, and previously held positions at UCLA, UCSF, and the New York Academy of Medicine. She touched so many lives by sharing her knowledge and teaching others how to obtain information. The study of ancient Greece, its history and literature, was a particular love of hers. Florie also loved animals and especially feral cats. She rescued, adopted and gave much love to many a feline. Florie had many gifts and perhaps the greatest was that of giving of herself; listening, laughing, showing empathy and love. She will be greatly missed by family members who loved her deeply: sister, Barbara Miller of La Jolla, CA; nephews, Steven Miller of Los Angles, CA; Bruce Miller and wife Gail of Derry, New Hampshire; grand niece Marissa Miller and grand nephews Andrew and Nathaniel Miller; brother in-law and sister-in-law, Edward Berger and Christina McComb-Berger of Tucson, AZ; nephew Michael McComb of Tucson, AZ; nieces Amanda Berger Saxe of Encino, CA and Debbie Berger Lehr of Greenwood Village, CO and former sister-in-law Bobbie Berger Hanft of Tucson, AZ. Florie leaves behind many friends and colleagues who also loved her dearly.

Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on September 24, 2010.