Los Angeles
County
Biographies
ORIN G. BERGE
Unusually
successful in the real estate business is Orin G. Berge. Going into business for himself as a real
estate broker in December of 1954, in a small office at 2 North El Molino in
Alhambra, Mr. Berge rapidly outgrew these facilities and moved his offices to
100 S. Garfield in Alhambra in December of 1956. In 1955, his gross sales were over
$500,000.00. Continuing to grow with the
San Gabriel Valley, Mr. Berge opened a second office at 2525 Huntington Drive,
San Marino, in 1960. With a staff of 10
employees, Mr. Berge expects his gross sales will be approximately
$4,000,000.00 in 1961.
Born
in Omaha, Nebraska, on March 24, 1916, Mr. Berge is the son of Gustave and Paulene (Meyers)
Berge. His father was a furniture buyer
in Omaha. Educated at Holy Angel
Catholic Parochial School and Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he
was graduated in 1935, Mr. Berge participated in track in the 440. His first job was with the U. S. Rubber
Company in Omaha in 1936, where he was employed for two years. Arriving in Los Angeles in 1940, Mr. Berge
went to work as a salesman for the Carnation Milk Company. In 1942 he became associated with the Pacific
Telephone and Telegraph Company, moving to Alhambra in 1941. Mr. Berge worked with the Plant Department of
the telephone company prior to becoming an advertising salesman with the
Pacific Telephone Company. He was
transferred to the Commercial Department in Los Angeles. For two years prior to his resignation, he
was the top advertising salesman in the Directory Advertising Department. He resigned after twelve years of employment
with the telephone company to establish his own real estate business.
On
January 30, 1935, in the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Omaha, Nebraska,
Mr. Berge married Miss Irene M. Borgmeyer. Mr. and Mrs. Berge are the proud parents of
six children: Thomas O., age 25, who is
in business with his father; Constance M. (Mrs. James) Hazeltine, age 23, who
resides in Alhambra; Judith O. (Mrs. Charles) Schaub,
age 21, a resident of San Marino, Orin G., Jr., age 19, a student at Pasadena
City College; Mary I., age 17, a senior at Ramona Convent; and Margaret M., age
13, a student a San Marino High School. The
family home is at 368 Alahmar Terrace in San Gabriel,
where they have resided for the past eight and one-half years.
In
addition to his active business and demands as a father of six, Mr. Berge is a
member of St. Therese Catholic Church in Alhambra; an eighteen year member of
the Holy Name Society; and active member of the Knights of Columbus; and the
Alhambra Civitan Club. He is on the
Board of Directors of the Alhambra Mental Health Association, serving in this
capacity for two years. He is a past 1st
Vice-President of the Father’s Club of the San Gabriel Mission High School and
for three years was Scoutmaster of St. Therese Boy Scout Troop No. 215. He is also a member of the San Marino Realty
Board. During the 1959-60 school year Mr. Berge taught classes in Real Estate Law and
Practices at Mark Keppel High School. He
is currently Fee Appraiser for the Pacific Telephone Company and an active
member in the Alhambra and the San Marino Chamber of Commerce.
An
ardent collector of stamps for twenty-five years, Mr. Berge also enjoys other
hobbies. He has been collecting coins
for ten years, and when he can take a few days off from his busy schedule, Mr.
Berge likes to go deep sea fishing and explore the back roads and
underdeveloped areas of the west. He is
well versed in the history of California, as well as on the geological history
of the State of California.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 490-491, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN
NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES