ST. MARY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: BERCEGEAY, LESLIE 

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source-Published: Franklin Banner-Tribune, The (LA) - Monday, November 26, 2007

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BERCEGEAY, LESLIE 

Leslie Stephens Bercegeay, 85, of Newport, N.C., died Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, at 
Carteret General Hospital. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2 
p.m. at Munden Funeral Home Chapel, Morehead City, N.C.

Mr. Bercegeay was a native of Charenton, and the eldest son of the late 
Melville Bercegeay and the former Nil-la Gardner. He was a 1943 graduate of the 
University of Southwestern Louisiana. He retired in 1977 as head of the 
Aeronautical Engineering Department, NARF, MCAS Cherry Point, N.C, with over 31 
years' civil service. His exceptional professional leadership and expertise led 
to numerous unprecedented engineering changes in the aeronautical engineering 
management programs and engineering products and service.

Both Navy and Marine Corps aviation maintenance programs and operational 
reliability of the Weapons Systems were noticeably enhanced and improved under 
his leadership. His expertise was continually recognized by all levels of Navy 
and Marine Corps Command and Fleet Commanders. His initiative, dependability, 
and constant demands on himself and others for outstanding quality of 
performance led to numerous recognitions including the Meritorious Civilian 
Service Award, the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, Outstanding 
Achievement in Adaptability Award, and various Navy Accident Prevention Awards. 
Mr. Bercegeay was president and/or founder of a number of associations 
including the Cherry Point Employees Association, Carteret County PTA, Cherry 
Point Veterans Mutual Housing, Newport Development Association, and Newport 
Little League. He served three terms as Newport Town Commissioner for Police 
and Utilities and chairman of long-range planning commission for the town; 
chairman of the West Carteret High School site selection committee; and served 
on the Carteret County Board of Education Advisory Council. He was an active 
member of the Newport Moose Lodge and held various offices including building 
chairman. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and friends. He 
will be remembered as an exceptional engineer and civil servant leader, a 
patriot, a friend, and especially his role as husband, father, and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, "Ethel" Mary Magdalene; son, Mark and wife 
Charlotte of Raleigh; daughter Ellen Day and husband Richard, Morehead City; 
daughter Bonnie of Newport; son Brian of Newport; sister Anne Caffery and 
husband Patrick, New Iberia; three grandchildren: Travis Day, Morehead City; 
Russell Day, Charleston, SC; and Kevin Day, Morehead City, N.C.; two great 
grandchildren: Dylan Avery Day and Mary Andersen Day, Morehead City. He was 
predeceased by his parents and two brothers, David "Tish" Bercegeay and Emanual 
Paul Bercegeay of Louisiana.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27, Munden Funeral Home, 2112 
Arendell Street, Morehead City, N.C.

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