Obituary of Sidney Bertram

Services will be in Soquel, California on Thursday, August 2, for Dr. Sidney Bertram who died peacefully at his Scotts Valley home on July 30, 2012 at the age of 99. Born in Winnipeg, Canada, he graduated from California Technical College in Los Angeles, and earned his PhD at Ohio State University. He moved to the Santa Cruz area in 2002. For more than 50 years, he had a remarkable career as an electronic engineer and a professor of electricity, relativity, and magnetism. While working for various Hi-Tech companies, Dr. Bertram was instrumental in developing PPI sonar during WW II, which enabled allied forces to penetrate the Sea of Japan. He was also the designer of automated photogrammetry, and helped to create the first guidance systems used on the modern day cruise missile. Dr. Bertram was published in his writing of a math book along with numerous technical articles. He served as a Professor of Electricity and Magnetism at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and enjoyed being a key element in stimulating the young minds of aspiring electrical engineers. His passion was relativity, and he was very proud of his published work entitled Classical Derivation of Relativity, along with his website which enabled colleagues and former students to follow his work. His family will always cherish the memory of his love for playing Scrabble, and his frequent writing of letters to the editor at the Santa Cruz Sentinel. He is survived by his three sons and daughters in-law, Irv and Luann Bertram of Seattle, Henry and Susan Bertram of Scotts Valley, CA.; Robert and Gayle Bertram of Sebastopol, CA, and his daughter and son in-law Dr. Suzanne Bertram and Logan Scott of Fort Collins, CO. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Esther Varon Bertram. One of eight children, he was preceded in death by six of his siblings and leaves his brother, Arnold Bertram of Southern California. Dr. Bertram also leaves his seven beloved grandchildren and two loving great grandchildren. A graveside service will be on Thursday, August 2, 2012 at Beit Olam Jewish Cemetery (550 Old San Jose Road) in Soquel; beginning at 1 p.m., Rabbi Paula Marcus of Temple Beth El Jewish Community will officiate. Remembrances may be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz County.