Ward Hill, Treasurer of the Northern California Chapter of the SAH (NCCSAH), remembers friend and colleague Ian Berke, who passed away February 18:
"It was with deep sadness and regret that we learned our longtime fellow NCCSAH board member Ian Berke had passed away on February 18 at age 83. We had recently had a board meeting at Ian’s house. He had some health challenges during the previous year, but his passing was really a surprise since he seemed to be getting better in recent months. He was truly a Renaissance man and a great connoisseur.
"Ian served on the NCCSAH Board since 2010 as director of membership and communications. I first met Ian on the 2003 NCCSAH tour of the University of California, Berkeley. Ian loved American Architectural History, decorative arts and fine art. Trained as a mining engineer, he brought great enthusiasm and a sharp analytical mind to his deep and scholarly appreciation of these disciplines. He was himself an inveterate and savvy art and antique collector. His authentically restored c.1886 Clay Street home— shared with his wife Maggie—show-cased a very impressive and diverse collection of art, furniture and decorative arts. Some aspects of his collection were rather eccentric, like his collection of over 500 stone books. A major exhibit of his stone books opens soon in San Francisco.
"One year Ian conducted several tours of his house for the NCCSAH. He particularly loved 19th century furniture. He appreciated the aesthetic qualities of furniture, but also was fascinated by craftsmanship and “how things are made.” I will always remember during the tour of his house, Ian talking with great insight and enthusiasm about the craftsmanship exhibited in the beautiful dowel work of a cabinet drawer.
"Ian also had a deep appreciation and knowledge of stained glass windows. In 2012, he led an amazing all-day NCCSAH tour of stained glass in San Francisco. We all learned so much about the beauty and design of stained-glass windows but were also dazzled hearing about all the different methods of fabricating stained glass to create various visual effects. Ian and Maggie hosted an after-tour reception at their home.
"In addition to his love of architecture and decorative arts, Ian was a serious film buff. He would sometimes go to several films in a week (always in a movie theater; he hated Netflix). For the last ten years he posted wonderfully insightful film reviews that drew some 500 online followers.
"Last but not least, Ian was a great connoisseur of fine wine and food. He particularly loved everything prepared by Maggie, who is a fabulous cook. They loved dining out in San Francisco’s many incredible restaurants. But his love of food transcended just haute cuisine: he knew where you could get the best pizza."
Donations may be made in Ian’s memory to Swords to Plowshares, 401 Van Ness Ave., Suite 313, San Francisco, CA 94102; or to the Colorado School of Mines, Museum of Earth Science, Geology Department, 1812 Illinois St., Golden, CO., 80401.
Ian Berke joined SAH in 2003, and attended several SAH Annual International Conferences.