Byron Leon Bebergal, Loved Photography and Learning

Byron Leon Bebergal, 85, of Swampscott, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully, Monday, January 27, 2014 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, Massachusetts

Byron was born September 21, 1928 in Charleston, South Carolina to Rebecca (Zazofsky) and Samuel Bebergal. Byron spent most of his childhood in Roxbury and Brookline, and the city of Boston was his playground, but he often visited his relatives in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1956 he married Ruth Sorgman, the love of his life for whom he was married for 42 years until her untimely passing in 1999. Byron attended the University of Missouri for a short time, but left to help his father run their family store--a tailored men's clothing shop--in Waltham, Massachusetts. Byron quickly became a trusted and respected member of the Moody Street business community and became president of the Waltham Chamber of Commerce and was on the Board of Directors of the former Waltham Hospital. He raised four children, took frequent trips to Rockport, Massachusetts and Miami Florida, and fulfilled a dream vacationing in Rome, Italy with Ruth. In 1973 his father Samuel passed away and Byron ran the store on his own successfully until a block fire in 1974.

Byron moved his family to Florida where he continued to pursue his love of photography and learning. He took a correspondence course in Hebrew, studied Jewish texts, and educated himself on history and archeology. In his retirement years back in Massachusetts, he enjoyed reading espionage and spy novels, doing the New York Times crossword puzzle, and visiting Boston, most especially the Boston Public Library. 

Byron is survived by his children, Lisa Mead and her husband Doug Mead, Karen Bebergal and her husband David Barter, and Peter Bebergal and his wife Amy Bebergal; four grandchildren, Aaron and Jennie Kiefer, Carly Bebergal, and Sam Bebergal; and three great-grandchildren, Emma, Jacob, and Mia Kiefer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Rebecca, his wife Ruth (Sorgman) Bebergal in 1999, and his son Eric Bebergal in 2004.

A celebration of life service will take place at Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel, 10 Vinnin Street, SALEM on Friday, January 31, 2014 at 12:00PM, followed a burial service at Pride of Lynn Cemetery, Lynn. Rabbi Annie Fantasia will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in memory of Byron Leon Bebergal to: Boston Public Library, ATTN: President's Office, 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116. For online condolences, please visitwww.stanetskyhymansonsalem.com