By Siebert H.R. No. 30 74R2871 SAJ-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The passing of Evelyn Ruth Sweet Berg on November 1-2 12, 1994, at the age of 77, has brought a great loss to the many 1-3 friends and relatives of this distinguished San Antonio civic 1-4 leader and patron of the performing arts; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Born September 25, 1917, in Washington, D.C., she 1-6 earned a bachelor of arts degree in music from the University of 1-7 Wisconsin in 1936; and 1-8 WHEREAS, The following year she wed Tom Berg, and the couple 1-9 enjoyed a deeply fulfilling union that lasted for 56 years and was 1-10 blessed by a loving family that grew to include two fine children 1-11 and five cherished grandchildren; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Mrs. Berg nurtured her love for music by devoting 1-13 much of her life to enhancing the awareness and appreciation of the 1-14 cultural arts in each community in which she resided; as a young 1-15 woman she was a member of the Matinee Musical Club in Philadelphia 1-16 and also studied classical piano under Clarence Bawden; and 1-17 WHEREAS, She relocated to the New York City metropolitan area 1-18 in 1958, where she became a member of the auxiliary board of the 1-19 New York Philharmonic and initiated the highly acclaimed 1-20 Pre-Concert Philharmonic Lecture Series under Leonard Bernstein; in 1-21 addition, she helped launch the Caramoor Music Festival in Katonah, 1-22 New York, and served with distinction on its board for several 1-23 years; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Mrs. Berg remained active in the arts after settling 2-1 in San Antonio in 1968, bringing the Bolshoi Ballet to that city 2-2 and mustering her unbridled enthusiasm and boundless energy to 2-3 revitalize the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio and organize the 2-4 group's first European tour in 1985; and 2-5 WHEREAS, A dedicated and knowledgeable advocate of the arts, 2-6 Mrs. Berg made many significant contributions to the community as 2-7 president of the Southwest Craft Center, as a docent at the McNay 2-8 Art Institute, and as an esteemed board member of the San Antonio 2-9 Symphony Orchestra, the San Antonio Performing Arts Association, 2-10 and Arts San Antonio, which honored her as the inaugural recipient 2-11 of its annual Award of Excellence in 1994; and 2-12 WHEREAS, She also contributed her wealth of expertise to 2-13 education issues, offering invaluable insight as chairwoman of the 2-14 Character Education Institute and as a member of the University of 2-15 Texas at San Antonio Fine Arts and Humanities Advisory Council and 2-16 the University Roundtable; in recognition of her outstanding 2-17 service, she received the Russell Hill Memorial Award from the 2-18 Character Education Institute; and 2-19 WHEREAS, In recognition of her outstanding service to the 2-20 local arts community, Mrs. Berg was awarded several other 2-21 prestigious accolades, including nomination to the San Antonio 2-22 Women's Hall of Fame and the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award for the 2-23 Arts; and 2-24 WHEREAS, In addition to her many other responsibilities, she 2-25 was active in San Antonio 100, the San Antonio Festival, and the 2-26 Live Oak Garden Club; and 2-27 WHEREAS, Mrs. Berg was a woman of great vision whose 3-1 remarkable efforts to bring beauty into the lives of fellow San 3-2 Antonians will continue to have a profound effect on the members of 3-3 that community for generations to come; though her special presence 3-4 will be missed by all who knew her, her spirit will surely live on 3-5 in the hearts and minds of the many people whose lives she touched; 3-6 now, therefore, be it 3-7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-8 Legislature hereby honor the memory of Evelyn Ruth Sweet Berg and 3-9 extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her 3-10 husband, Tom Berg; to her children and their spouses, Barbara and 3-11 Bob Sypult of Dallas and Jim and Ruth Berg of San Antonio; to her 3-12 five grandchildren, Scott Sypult, Richard Berg, Thomas Berg, Laura 3-13 Berg, and Jennifer Berg; and to her many other friends and 3-14 relatives; and, be it further 3-15 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared 3-16 for the members of her family and that when the Texas House of 3-17 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Evelyn 3-18 Ruth Sweet Berg.