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Puppyraiser

PFG, Picture Framing God
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Jul 10, 1999
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Maryland
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Howards retired
Linda Wassell just called me and told me that one of our industry's leading lights, Don Berkman has passed away. He had been battling cancer for several years and finally succumbed.

I remember when he took the first MCPF exam, all his submission frames were gold leaf closed corner breathtaking beauties.

He never did things by halves and gave many hours of service to both his chapter and National PPFA.

Rest In Peace, Don...
 
Sad news indeed. Don was "old school" and I looked forward to being with him every year at the PPFA convention. He was a patient, gentle man, a great instructor and an asset to our profession.

September's convention will not be the same without him.
 
I Met Don in Anaheim in feb for the first time and he was full of life and fun. Very sad to hear of his passing.
 
Don was an excellent craftsman and framer, always friendly and eager to help others. He was a dedicated PPFA member, a true professional, and a good friend. We will miss him.
 
Don was one of my absolute favorite people to visit with at PPFA conventions. I shall miss him greatly.

I learned a good deal from him and he was simply one of the most dignified gentlemen in our industry.
 
Master Berkman, friend, teacher, mentor and inspiration to framers in Austin, all of Texas and around the country--you are the "Gold Standard"
 
Sad News...

Thanks for sharing the sad news Ellen.

Don will be sorely missed by Texas, the framing industry and his family. As others have commented, Don was a craftsman, a real gentleman, and generous with his time to PPFA and his fellow framers. Don's passing is a loss to us all.

John
 
Ostich boots, a big belt buckle, blue jeans, and a tan coat, if anything defined the best of Texas it was Don. As Ellen mentioned, we were all humbled by the craftsmanship of his MCPF exam entries. It was not that one part of it was done to a superior level, it was that all of it was done beyond what was expected. Don was a bespoke framer.

Don was beyond what we expected with his desire to make the industry a better place. He took on the challenge of the original Competition Board, and served with distinction. He drove across the US teaching class after class on competion judging, and his beloved "leafing" classes. Without Don's tireless efforts there would not be a PPFA competition program today. For Don, life was not about taking, but about giving back. The industry is better for his efforts.

I last talked to Don in October, and he was still the optimist I had always known. We continued our twenty-year running joke of Don calling me senator, and I calling him Berk Donman. It was never a great joke, but after twenty years, it was our joke. Berk I sure will miss those boots.

William Parker MCPF GCF
 
Someone please water guild them boots before they stick him in the ground.... 'cause he is one that deserves to walk the gold paving in style wherever he heads off to next.

I'm going to miss that great laugh, it came from a heart of gold.
 
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