Obituary of Eric Berthoud

Eric Berthoud of Upper Saint Clair, formerly of Elco, died at home in his sleep on October 30 at the age of 89. He is survived by four children and two ex-wives: Kevin, Kyle, and Kent, with Ellen (nee Buangjug); and Tia with Ida (nee Arneson); as well as Tia’s two children, Donny and Cherie. By his own account, Eric lived a long and happy life. He was born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland on June 27, 1933, where he lived for 17 idyllic years before he followed his beloved mother Attilia to the United States. He joined the US Air Force a few years later, hoping he could fly airplanes. Instead, he spent the Korean War sitting behind a desk in Japan, typing up memos in a language he barely spoke. After his time in the Air Force, Eric returned to Washington County and got a job with Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel where he would work for the next 38 years in various roles as a member of the steelworkers union. He lived most of his life on the same plot of land in Elco with direct access to the Monongahela river, where he loved taking his kids sailing or canoeing. Eric always prided himself on leading an active life, which he continued to do well after retirement. He primarily occupied himself by teaching chess to hundreds of kids across the pittsburgh suburbs, sharing his love of the game, and his belief that education was the best thing we could give to the next generation. In his free time, he also loved working in his garden, fixing things that he should have replaced years ago, picking wild berries, showing people the rings of saturn through his telescope, complaining about violence in American movies, and most of all, bragging about his kids (whether or not they deserved it). A public memorial service will be held for him on Sunday, November 20th at 1 PM at the East End Assembly of God (430 South Evaline Street Pittsburgh, PA 15224). In lieu of flowers, which Eric would have found unnecessary, just take to heart a final bit of advice he told his son: if you ever have kids, don’t be so hard on them.