Albert (Bert) Ingersoll Decker, 83, passed away on May 28, 2008, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March. He was a long-time resident of Point Loma.
Bert was born in San Diego on Aug. 17, 1924, to Benton Weaver and Edwina Naylor Decker. He attended schools in Annapolis and San Diego, including one year at Point Loma High School. After graduating from Annapolis High, Bert spent a year at Severn School to prepare for entrance into the U.S. Naval Academy. He earned a B.S. in engineering from the Navy in only three years, as his class of 1946 (18th Company) was graduated in 1945 so they could go to war.
From 1945 to 1958, Bert was on active duty with the U.S. Navy. He and his brother, Ben, were fifth-generation naval officers, continuing a family tradition that began when their great-great-grandfather, William Augustus Weaver, joined the new U.S. Navy in 1811.
Bert served on the USS Iowa, Astoria, Partridge, Purvis and Fessenden. He spent much of his duty in the South Pacific and North Atlantic. He also taught chemistry at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1950 to 1952. In the late 1950s, he coordinated public relations activities in San Diego for the Navy and was especially involved with the International House Association, which hosted foreign officer visitors.
In 1959, Bert began his second career as a math and science teacher. He earned his teaching credential and master’s degree from San Diego State College and taught for 26 years in the San Diego City Schools. He taught at Dana, Roosevelt and Wilson junior high schools; at Hoover, San Diego, Kearny, Point Loma and Morse high schools; and Midway Adult School. He loved attending football games at Morse High.
1959 was a surreal, bittersweet year: he started his new career; his family moved to their Point Loma home; his second daughter, Jenny, was born; and his beloved brother, Ben, was killed when the Navy plane Ben was piloting crashed into the Inland Sea of Japan. Ben died on May 28, 1959, exactly 49 years to the day before Bert died.
Bert retired from the Navy Reserve as a commander in 1975 and from the San Diego City Schools in 1985. As a retiree, he became an ardent community activist.
He served on the Peninsula Community Planning Board, North Bay Redevelopment PAC and Save Our NTC board. He was involved with Friends of Famosa Slough, Save Dana (Jr. High), and San Diego Coastal Alliance; and he worked to prevent the installation of parking meters on Shelter Island.
He was program director for the Shelter Island Rotary, Presidio Optimist, and Point Loma Clipper Club. He was passionate about preserving San Diego’s quality of life, history and military heritage. He opposed giving away public lands to private developers.
Bert’s hobbies included international travel, discussing World War II, current politics and family camping.
He will be greatly missed by all of those whose lives were touched by his good-heartedness and helpful spirit.
Bert is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dona; five children: Jib Davidson, Mary Decker, Jennifer Decker Hiller, Ben Decker and Carol Decker Vallejo; and nine grandchildren. Interment will be June 27 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held June 28, 2 p.m. at Point Loma Presbyterian Church, 2128 Chatsworth Blvd. A reception will follow. Donations to the American Cancer Society or Disabled American Veterans are welcome.