As a young man in Boy Scouts, lifelong Peoria Heights resident Roger Merle Bergia earned one of the youth organization’s highest honors-- the Eagle rank. Later, at Eureka College, his leadership skills would be refined as co-captain of the track team and a lineman on the football squad.
After graduating from college in 1960 with a B.A. degree, Bergia took his leadership skills back home to Peoria Heights Community Unit School District #325 as a newly-hired grade school teacher and coach.
He would remain actively involved with the school district until just a few weeks before his passing on March 23, 2022. Bergia, at age 84 and with a lifetime of service to his community and school district on his resume, passed away in hospice, surrounded by his family. His death sparked a ripple of emotion and appreciation through the close-knit Heights community of 5,860, many of whom had known Bergia personally.
“Roger was a massive figure in Peoria Heights for the last 60 years,” said Dr. Eric M. Heath, who has been Peoria Heights CUSD #325 superintendent for the past ten years, after being mentored for the job by Bergia for six years prior to the latter’s retirement in 2012. “He started as an educator here in the 1960s and worked his way up as a teacher, principal and superintendent of schools for 38 years. He loved this community, he loved this school district, and he had an impact on everything in this community. He touched many lives, and everybody admired him.”
Heights resident Erik Kepler graduated from Peoria Heights High School in 2008. Kepler, who went on to study landscape architecture at the University of Illinois, called Bergia one of the nicest and most genuine gentlemen he’d ever met.
“I don’t think he ever forgot a name or a face. Every time you saw him he would ask how you were doing, ask you how life was going. Even after high school he was always interested in what you were doing, where you’re working or if you were still in school,” said Kepler. “He taught a lot of people how to be a little more mindful of different situations, show kindness at all times and don’t get mad at people for making mistakes-- help them out.”
Heath agreed that Bergia’s primary legacy would probably lie in the example he set in how to interact with others in a genuine, positive manner, set goals and boundaries, and strive for excellence.
“He touched so many lives; so many people admired him. His legacy is in the school district and the building we are in now, and in just the thousands and thousands and thousands of lives that he touched in a positive way,” Heath said.
Bergia’s legacy will remain solidified in brick and mortar in the community for generations to come. Over the course of his 52-year career with District #325, he led the school district through the tumultuous closing of neighborhood grade schools to oversee construction of a larger, modern grade school, located at 500 E. Glen Avenue, in 1999.
A 2012 Peoria Journal Star article about Bergia’s retirement described the superintendent’s demeanor as consistently calm, approachable, fair and funny. He was known to keep a popcorn popper in his office in order for students to join him everyday at 3 p.m. for fresh buttered popcorn and soda, and a bag of dog food in a desk drawer in case a visitor felt compelled to bring their pooch by for a visit.
Village of Peoria Heights Public Works employee and volunteer firefighter Scott Shoop echoed Heath and Kepler’s praise for Bergia, who as superintendent of schools would often pop in at the old Heights neighborhood grade schools (including Kelly Elementary, which Shoop and Kepler attended at different times) to interact with students and faculty.
“He was a great guy who was always there for the kids, and never forgot a face,” said Shoop. “He was fair with all students. He
would walk around the halls and ask kids how they were doing. After he retired I would see him out and about, and he would still honk and wave. He will be deeply missed.”
After his retirement, Bergia continued to serve District #325 as treasurer for many years, and as an on-call mentor for current teachers, administrators and others in the community until shortly before his death.
“He was a mentor to so many people in this community,” said Heath. “So many people come back to visit with him. He would give to strangers his time, his ear and his insight. What he did for all of us who worked for him and with him is immeasurable.”
His obituary describes Bergia as a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather who put the needs of his family before his own, but was a fun-loving kid at heart. Bergia was a longtime member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, where his funeral service will be held on March 28.
