Olaf Bergwall, teacher, 1960-1961. Mr. Bergwall died on July 23, 2022. This is his picture from the 1961 Echo.
His obituary: Olaf Tarvin Bergwall of Tucker, Georgia, and short-term resident of Valdosta, Georgia, passed away, Saturday, July 23, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was 88.
Olaf was born July 3, 1934 in Rome, Georgia to Earnest and Thelma (Tarvin) Bergwall. He attended Young Harris College and Berry College prior to attending Mercer University as a dual scholarship athlete in basketball and golf. He graduated in 1958. He played the Georgia golf circuit as an amateur and went on to become professional in 1960, being named club professional at Cedar Valley Golf Club, which he owned for a short time before returning to Rome. In 1963, he was named club professional at Callier Springs Golf Club. He went on to excel in golf for several decades, winning many tournaments and receiving numerous accolades. He married his former wife, Julia Davis, in 1960. Over their 20 years of marriage, they raised three children: Fancy, Rhett, & Ayn. During this time, he also earned his Masters degree in Education from the Georgia College of Milledgeville. Olaf was an educator and basketball coach at both the high school and college level. He also was an accomplished poker player. Anyone that knew him well would attest to a kind and generous nature. As a steadfast intellectual, writer, and voracious reader, he had a life-long fascination for philosophy, history, law, and economic theory. He championed individuality and freedom. His sharp wit, keen sense of humor, and prodigious intellect made for interesting conversations. Like Socrates, he often challenged others to reevaluate their knowledge and he relished the free exchange of ideas. In the early 1980's, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and went on to marry his beloved Cheryl. They shared 33 years together and he loved her two children, Christy and Ryan, as his own. They shared a special union, full of laughs, adventures, and books. Upon her passing, he continued to oversee her company, Community Club Cleaning, as CEO and owner until his passing. Olaf is survived by his three daughters, Ayn Duncan (Dean) of Valdosta, GA., Fancy Bergwall of Thomasville, GA., Christy Holmes of Huntsville, AL. and two sons, Rhett Bergwall of Thomasville, GA., and Ryan Rice of Tucker, GA. He is preceded in death by his parents, Earnest and Thelma, and his wife Cheryl Pritchard Bryant–Bergwall. A private celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
[Rome News–Tribune (GA) – July 28, 2022]
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