Dr. Roy Thomas Bergman
LANSING – Dr. Roy Thomas Bergman, 79, our loving father and grandfather, died peacefully in his sleep to be with his wife and Lord on Dec. 30, 2014. Born Dec. 20, 1935, in Cassopolis, Mich., the second son of Dr. Roy E. and Lois Bergman, he graduated from Cassopolis High School in 1953, where he was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” He excelled in sports and other school activities, receiving offers to try out for the St. Louis Browns and Chicago Cubs baseball teams, but chose to attend college instead. His love of sports never left him, however, and would take a different form later in his life.
Roy found the love of his life when he went in for a doctor’s appointment, and was charmed by the office assistant. Roy married Sally Jo Proshwitz of Dowagiac, Mich. on June 28, 1958. Together they had three children, Dr. Roy Thomas Bergman II (Laurie) of Wenatchee, Wash., Amy Lynn Rovin (Dr. Richard) of Marquette, and Samara Edlyn Murphy (Timothy) of Grand Ledge, Mich.
They were blessed to have eight marvelous grandchildren, Roy Thomas Bergman III, Eric James Bergman, and Kenneth Arlen Bergman, all of Ann Arbor; Christopher Adam Rovin, Lauren Townsend Rovin and Taylor Lynn Rovin, all of Marquette; Emma Laige and Samuel Thomas Murphy, both of Grand Ledge.
Dr. Bergman attended college at Michigan State University and graduated from MSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine in 1959. He briefly joined his father and brother George in practice at Bergman Veterinary Medical Center in Cassopolis before going on to medical school at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he was president of the Class of 1964. He pursued a career in general surgery and oncology. His surgery residency was interrupted by the Vietnam War. He served as a captain in the United States Army, initially at Kirk Army Hospital in Aberdeen, Md., before being assigned to the 36th Evacuation Hospital at Vung Tau, Vietnam. Not surprisingly, the experience in Vietnam greatly strengthened his surgical talents. Many years later, when the television show “M*A*S*H*” was near the end of its run, he wrote to the producer and complimented them on the show’s authenticity. As a result, he was asked to contribute stories of his own, which were used in an episode the final season, and was invited out to watch filming and meet the cast.
After completing his surgical training, Dr. Bergman eventually settled in Escanaba, where he practiced surgery for many years. With his practice established, he was once again able to turn his attention to sports. He became the team physician for the Escanaba Eskymos, a position he held for 18 years. Through contacts he had made over the years, he was asked to volunteer his time at the first National Sports Festival held in Colorado Springs in 1978. For the next several years he regularly served as a team physician for the National Sports Festival, the Summer and Winter US Olympic Teams, and was named the head physician for the 1983 Pan American Games. It was an absolute thrill and joy for him to work with the best athletes in the world. In 1985 he was elected to the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame for his work and contributions to the field of sports medicine.
Eventually he left Escanaba to finish his career in Lansing, where he and Sally had started their married life together. After retiring from his private practice he still spent one day a week at the MSU Medical School, where he would work in the Surgery Clinic teaching medical students and residents. He also got to follow his beloved MSU Spartans more closely, and hardly ever missed a home MSU football game.
Surviving are his three children, Dr. Roy Thomas (Laurie) Bergman II, Amy (Dr. Richard) Rovin, and Samara (Tim) Murphy; his eight grandchildren, Roy Thomas Bergman III, Eric Bergman, Kenneth Bergman, Christopher Rovin, Lauren Rovin, Taylor Rovin, Emma Murphy, and Sam Murphy; brother, Dr. George Bergman; brother-in-law, Jerry (Gale) Proshwitz. Dr. Bergman was preceded in death by his wife, Sally Jo Bergman, in 2011; and his parents, Dr. Roy E. and Lois Bergman, in 1964.
The family received friends and the Memorial Funeral Liturgy was held Monday, Jan. 5, at St. Gerard Catholic Church, 4437 W. Willow, Lansing, with Fr. Paul Erickson presiding. Contributions may be made to St. Gerard School or Church in memory of Dr. Bergman. Friends may visit the guest book at www.tiffanyfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Tiffany Funeral Home, Lansing.