Two years after his passing, I just learned of my favorite professor’s death. I want to take a moment to express my condolences to his family and communities for their profound loss.

In the mid-1990s at the University of Calgary, I vividly remember Dr. Bershad showing an auditorium of new students, including myself, a picture of himself in army fatigues. Anticipating that some students may have some preconceptions about art history – in other words, that his course must be an ‘easy A’ – Dr. Bershad quickly set us all straight. After he showed that picture, he then told us that art history is not easy and that his course was no cake-walk. Then he said (and I paraphrase here) “… by the end of the week a third of you will drop this course; by the end of the semester another third will have failed this course, but the remaining third of you will all get As”. Whenever I visited him in his office, which was frequently, he always greeted me with “Oh, I am so pleased my favorite student has dropped by to visit with me” or somesuch; though flattered, I knew that I was one many ‘favorite students’. It was nice to bask in his generosity, and this is a lesson that I have kept going forward – to be authentic and generous.

It was a pleasure knowing Dr. Bershad, and over the years I recalled my time in his class very fondly. I suspect that many of you who have come to this site to remember him will agree that people, like David, are the glue that holds our families and communities together. He made us all stronger and better than we ever thought we could be. To his nearest and dearest – I know that your loss is profound and you have been wounded in a manner from which you are likely never to truly fully recover – but do try and take good take of yourselves.

All the Best, Peter Hamann

Although I only met my cousins David and Louis once 1n 1951 I was advised of David’s career in the Art world by his mother Shirley who often visited her sister (my mother) Frances in Natonal City Calif. Proud to be related to such a fine man as described in his obituary. As of this date his brother Louis still resides in Los Angeles County Calif. and may be unaware of David’s passing. I do not have his address. Any help in this regard please Email.

Dr. Bershad was a fabulous person and a top notch professor. I first heard Dr. Bershad speak when he gave one section of a lecture series explaining propaganda to military officers. Twenty-five years later, I had the good fortune to be his student in three art history courses at St. Mary’s. Dr. Bershad’s breadth of knowledge was astounding and his lectures were both engaging and witty. He took an interest in all his students, and even in their families. He was a person whose humanity and knowledge we can all hope to emulate. It is a great sadness to that he has passed away and his knowledge and scholarship will also be missed.

Hello Sonja,

terry Lauder wrote to tel me of David’s passing. I am very sorry My sympathies to you. I will remember David forever for his sense of humour and support to my family during our turbulent times. I have moved to Red Deer and remarried ands am doing well here.

Again, please accept my sympathies.

Mark Waters

I have had the privilege and good fortune to work with Professor Dr. David Bershad in the Art Department at The University of Calgary from 2003, and it has been a true honor for me to have made his acquaintance. A scholar, a gentleman, a historian, a military man without flair or airs, and much more. Not only was it a pleasure to work with Dr. David Bershad on a daily basis but he permitted and encouraged me to audit his art history courses at UofC and at St. Mary’s which I did and which indeed opened my vision and knowledge into the world of art history. So inspired and in awe I was by his lectures and knowledge that I travelled to Italy with my husband one spring and took pleasure in visiting all the places and viewing art work that I had dreamed about and seen in his lectures. Dr. Bershad’s smile and sense of humor is what I will so miss.

I also had the good fortune of having a formal friendship with Mrs. Bershad and I will always remember the Bershads with fond memories, kindness, and love, for they have touched and enriched my soul in so many ways. Rest in peace Dr. Bershad, I will miss you forevermore.

it is with a very sad heart, and a great deal of shock,that I was recently notified of DR. David’s passing.my good buddy,Ian Greig and I had come to look very much foreward to seeing David every Friday at the point and feather.it just won’t seem the same.R.I.P. my frend. sincerely Moe Watson

Whenever David came to the cafe at St. Mary’s, he always, ALWAYS made a witty comment or joke. Irrepressible! He will be missed.

David was a very special person. I always called him “The David”. An extremely intellectual and funny person. It was always a pleasure to be in his company. I had the pleasure of doing a master class with him in Rome…..it will always be a high lite in my life!

Rest in peace gentle soul.

David, You were one of the best Human beings on this planet…it was my sincere pleasure to know you……..You are with your love….rest in peace………Danny.

My condolences to the family of Dr. David Bershad. I knew him when I was studying for an M.A. in military history at the University of Calgary. He was a member of the Military History Society and I remember him well–he was an incredibly engaging man, who always had an entertaining story to tell about his past exploits! He also took up playing tennis at the Elbow Park Tennis Club during those years and I would often see him there with Sonia enjoying a game on the clay courts. He will be sadly missed by all those whose lives he touched.

He was an inspiring, funny, incredibly knowledgeable, kind teacher, and a storyteller par excellence. Though brilliant, he downplayed his tremendous achievements with witty asides and great anecdotes. The classes I took from him are very much still with me in my understanding and appreciation of art. It was my blessing and privilege to learn from such a man.

We want to express our sorrow at hearing of David’s passing. We had known David and Sonia for many years as friends and colleagues at the University of Calgary. We loved his sense of humour and his iconoclasm, quite fitting for a Marine Captain cum Professor of Art History. Although we had lost touch with David and Sonia we have fond memories of our times with them at dinners and parties and in conversations on campus. Our thoughts and good wishes go out to the Bershad family.

Sir/Madam;

I very much enjoyed Dr Bershad’s company at Mewata Armoury functions where he would attend dinners held in the Officers’ Mess. His conversation was always informative and enlightening.

David was a true friend of St. Mary’s University and all of us who toiled there in the university’s early years. In addition to his academic prowess, he regaled us with his outstanding piano playing whenever the opportunity presented itself. And who could ever forget his wonderful sense of humour? David will be missed by all who came in contact with him. Rest in peace, David.

What a loss to the world of art and teaching. Dr Bershad was a very valued client for many years. I only had the utmost respect for him and Sonia.

Heaven has welcomed someone very special home!

We were both students of David’s in the late 70s. My career took a sudden twist shortly after encountering the scintillating and always entertaining lecture style of Dr. Bershad. Even though I finished my MFA in Painting, my first job was at Grande Prairie regional College teaching Art History as well as Painting and Design. For over 20 years I taught Art History at Red Deer College and often had the good Doctor come up for Visiting Lectures. They were always the highlight of my year.

I owe a tremendous amount of my career to Dr. Bershad. The effect he had on so many students was truly profound. He will be very much missed and appreciated by those who were fortunate to have known and worked with him.

Dr. Bershad was, unequivocally, the best professor I ever had the pleasure of learning from. His Art History classes were without equal, both in tone and in knowledge. He made every student feel like an individual, even in a lecture hall of three hundred. He knew everyone’s first and last names, and cared about his students as much as any person ever could. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

David will be truly missed. He was an extraordinary person and excellent scholar who never hesitated to speak his mind,

I well remember his booming voice and his flair for the dramatic when delivering his lectures, as well as his kindness and humanity that shone through every private interaction with David. He was a gentleman and a scholar, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.