On Sunday, March 20th, 2022, while hiking one of his favorite trails — the Tom McCall Point Trail in the Columbia Gorge — Kevin Guy Berg collapsed and was unable to be revived, passing away almost instantly on the beautiful plateau at the age of 56. He was accompanied by his long-time, loving partner, Shelley Graf of Portland, OR. Unfortunately, his dog Harlo was not allowed on this particular hike and his comforting presence was conspicuously absent.

Kevin was committed to fully living his life, and his passion for learning, travel, nature, art, and theater inspired colleagues, friends, and family. His love of learning resulted in an array of degrees and certificates including his Juris Doctorate and his BS in Science & Marketing, but he spoke most frequently about his BFA in Stage Directing. As a creative Kevin sought out experiences in the arts, working five seasons with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, including roles from usher to house manager. He not only remained a strong supporter of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, but also always found opportunities to experience performing arts in Portland and abroad, attending events like the ballet, the symphony, plays, concerts, and improv.

Kevin’s love of travel drove him to take frequent road trips to the beach and the desert in his beloved Toyota truck named Mabel. Mabel’s dashboard was dangerously laden with rock and shell mementos from his many excursions. He also traveled to South America after law school, spending almost a year learning Spanish, absorbing local theater, hopping buses to glaciers in Patagonia, and volunteering at an animal sanctuary in the Amazon. The next location on his long list of travel destinations? Belize.

A soul’s personality is revealed within the details of small day-to-day habits. Not far beneath his professional exterior, Kevin was a delightfully silly man who loved a pun, a play on words, or a corny saying. Shelley would limit him to one per day: “That’s your one” would be met with “Awh! Come on!!” He was also an accomplished doodler; most To-Do lists and napkins met the garbage with an intricate creature inscribed on them, which had only previously existed in his brain. Not a fan of artificial light, Kevin frequently used candles at the dinner table and in his home office. His mind could not hope to contain everything and he externalized his thoughts as much as he could, with nine white boards throughout the home; he also wrote on windows and shower tiles. A life-long learner, Kevin could juggle, was learning to cook, and had just acquired a drum that he practiced daily.

Obituaries are notoriously difficult to write, as are endings, so I am going to borrow from a great one — the obituary of Nevena Ann Topic:

Kevin would like to let you know that his work here is done. He received a call, a sort of an offer you can't refuse, for an appointment from which he will not be returning. This assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus—a reunion with family and friends he has not seen in a long time.

Kevin is survived and missed deeply by his partner Shelley Graf, his brothers Joel Sanders and Timothy Sanders, his stepfather Richard Sanders, and his dog Harlo. He was predeceased by his mother Naomi Conyers and father Axel Berg. Shelley will always be grateful to the first responders that day— the Wasco County Sheriffs, EMTs, Fire Department, Forestry Service, and many others who took exceptional efforts to assist in that remote and beautiful location.

Kevin lived his life fully embracing the hard work required to make meaningful change. In honor of his passing, we’re asking his friends, colleagues, and family to do what he loved most—take a nice walk in an open space to commune with nature. In Kevin’s memory, individuals can also consider donating to one of his favorite non-profits:

- Oregon Shakespeare Festival https://www.osfashland.org/

- Natural Resources Defense Council https://www.nrdc.org/

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