Charles A. Berg Jr.

BUCKFIELD – Charles A. Berg, Jr., 93, passed away peacefully at home in Buckfield on March 17, 2026 — those who knew him would appreciate that 17, being a prime number, was oddly auspicious.

Born Nov. 3, 1932, in Opelika, Ala. to Charles A. Berg, a marine engineer from Strängnäs, Sweden, and Ross Harrison Berg of Glen Alta, Ga., Charles spent his childhood following his father’s ship to ports in Houston, Long Beach, and the Philadelphia area. An accomplished musician from an early age, he earned a music scholarship to Valley Forge Military Academy. He played cello in a local orchestra and took up the tuba to satisfy his scholarship’s marching-band requirement.

Charles went on to West Point U.S. Military Academy, where he studied Russian, wrestled, and played football under a young coach by the name of Vince Lombardi. He met Judith Denenberg when his Russian Club crossed the Hudson to mingle with Vassar College’s Russian club. They would marry in 1957 and be together for nearly 69 years.

Midway through his West Point education Charles opted to pursue engineering and mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. There, Charles channeled his formidable intellect, earning B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Charles and Judy, married now, moved to Houston where Charles worked at Shell Development Company, learning oil extraction first-hand in the oil fields — times he fondly revisited while watching the TV series “Landman”. A Fellowship award allowed their return to MIT where in 1962 Charles completed M.E. and Sc.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering. The couple moved back to Houston where Charles taught at the University of Houston for a year, then they returned to Boston where Charles taught at MIT first as an Assistant Professor and later a tenured Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. The family also spent a sabbatical in Sheffield, England, where he taught at the University of Sheffield.

To pursue his interests in energy conservation Charles joined the Federal Government at the National Bureau of Standards. He also earned a pilot’s license, purchased a Cessna, and flew himself to a part-time teaching post at the University of Pittsburgh each week. He served as Chief Engineer of the Federal Power Commission until the family made the big move to rural Maine.

In 1963, Judy and Charles had bought a small 1800s farmhouse in rural Buckfield where the family vacationed regularly. In 1974 the family settled permanently in their Buckfield home. There, Charles renovated the old farmhouse and founded a company, Pyreflex, that manufactured industrial heat recovery mechanisms, in his garage — work for which he secured nine patents. Meanwhile, he continued consulting in energy conservation across the U.S. and abroad. In 1982 he joined Northeastern University in Boston as Chairman of the Mechanical Engineering department, where he taught until retirement. He successfully battled prostate cancer and enjoyed the following 31 years fully.

In retirement, Charles engaged in his passion for woodworking. He felled and slabbed large trees, turning them into beautiful tables gifted to family and friends. He fashioned small wooden creatures from pine cones, avocado pits, grapefruit rind, and other natural materials — each one a small, whimsical offering of love. He helped judge the local high school Science Fairs and gave generously of his time to his community. He had an encyclopedic memory for films and historical events, a rare gift for storytelling, and a sense of humor that filled the room.

His love of music lives on in his children. His brilliance touched everyone who knew him. He loved fully, and he was fully loved.

Charles is survived by his wife, Judy; his children Anne and her husband Neil of DeKalb, Ill., Michael and his wife Donna of East Kingston, N.H., and Elizabeth and her husband James of Portland; and his grandchildren Ethan, Nathaniel, and Sarah and her husband Hunter.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, 45 Main St., South Paris. Online condolences may be shared with his family at http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to the cause of your choosing in Charles’ memory.