Obituary of Milton Bergstein

.MICKEY BERGSTEIN RETIRED PENN STATE SMEAL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR FOOTBALL SPORTSCASTER AND MARINE CORPS VETERAN OF IOWA JIMA FLAG RAISING REGIMENT. Milton J. Bergstein, whose 72-year relationship with The Pennsylvania State University and Smeal College of Business at Penn State that began as a student and included 25-years broadcasting football and other sports, died Tuesday February 14, 2012 in State College, PA, His sports broadcasting career included much of the time the team was coached by Joe Paterno. He was 89 years old . He was also a surviving member of the United States Marine Corps Regiment which became famous after six of its members' were photographed raising the American flag during the World War II Battle of Iowa Jima. Better known as Mickey, he was badly wounded as a 23-year-old marine 2nd lieutenant commanding a mortar platoon the morning of the invasion. He and 22 of the 29 Marines under his command were either killed or wounded on the beach. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant, received five commendation medals and was awarded the Purple Heart. He retired in 1959 from the USMC Reserves with the rank of Captain. The attack on Pearl Harbor happened when he was a Penn State sophomore. He joined the Marines the following September, graduated in three years and immediately reported to Officers Candidate School. After recovering from his war wounds at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, he returned to Penn State and became an announcer at WMAJ—the community's first radio station—and began 25 years as an instructor teaching one marketing course. Later he became the station's General Manager. By 1950 Penn State football was generating enough interest that Bergstein and the athletic department put together a network of stations in Pennsylvania to carry the games. He served as producer of the small network and color commentator-- including for a time in the 1950s--with Pittsburgh Pirates legendary sportscaster Bob "The Gunner" Prince. Shortly thereafter Bergstein began broadcasting the university's basketball games , wrestling matches and boxing matches, which at the time was a popular college sport. He continued broadcasting sports and managing WMAJ until 1975when he joined the Business College as a full time instructor. He was a President of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and program director of the weekly Penn State Quarterback Club luncheon with Coach Joe Paterno. He received his M.A. in Communications in 1950 from Penn State, served as the business college's director of external relations and helped lead the annual summer Executive Education program. He was named the university's Renaissance Person of the year in 1988. Page 2/Mickey Bergstein Obit Mickey Bergstein's career included about five years on the national speaking circuit as a featured speaker at approximately 150 corporate and industry gathering. He also was invited on two occasions to give motivational talks to the assembled officer corps at two United States Air Force bases. Always at the ready, his favorite story involved a call he received from Harry Rhoades ,his agent at the Washington Speakers Bureau, asking if he could fly on short notice to address a large gathering of IBM sales managers and their customers in Austin, TX. "I have to warn you," Harry is quoted as saying, "don't be surprised if your audience is disappointed since you are going to be the last minute fill in for Ronald Reagan"—who had recently retired as President of the United States. He also authored two books, "Penn State Sports Stories and More" and "Living with Lions." He and his two brothers lost both their parents when they were quite young and were raised by his aunt and uncle along with their own eight children. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth of the Fairways at Brookline in State College, his son Andrew of State College, his son Michael and his wife, Patrizia, of Milan, Italy, his grandson Ethan and Ethan's mother Barbara Kasales of Lemont, PA and his sister-in-law Patricia Belser of Chevy Chase, Maryland. He was preceded in death by his daughter Nan and his two brothers. Visitation will be held Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College Saturday, February 18, 2012 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Centre County Memorial Park, State College. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Milton J. Bergstein Community Service Award—an annual Senior Award recognizing Smeal undergraduates for their service to the community c/o Office One, Old Main, Penn State University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 and indicating any such donation be for this award. Online condolences may be made at www.kochfuneralhome.com.