JAMES ALBERT BERGEY Nov. 10, 1932 – June 29, 2026
Jim Bergey, a kind and generous man, passed away at age 93, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Jim contributed to important national missions through the U.S. Air Force, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. And he contributed steadfast love and joy in two families besides his own, as adopted Uncle Jim.
Jim was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and raised in nearby Lansdale. He served in the U.S. Air Force, which took him to Alaska and New Mexico. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering at Drexel University and pursued a Ph.D. at Yale University. There he befriended fellow student John Bartlit and, later on, John’s bride Nancy.
Jim moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1963, following the Bartlits’ move in ‘62. At Los Alamos Scientific – later, National — Laboratory, Jim worked on one of the nation’s most important Cold War programs, Project Vela, which developed satellite instrumentation to detect nuclear detonations in the upper atmosphere and outer space. The instruments built for Project Vela had significant impact not only on national security but also on scientific discovery.
After 24 years at Los Alamos, Jim moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for related work at Sandia National Laboratories. There, he advanced satellite and intelligence programs of national security importance for another 15 years. There he befriended colleague John Wolfe and his wife Joyce.
Though Jim, an only child, neither married nor had biological children, his ways of friendship with John and Nancy Bartlit, and with John and Joyce Wolfe, enriched their families’ lives. His fun, supportive presence made memories of caring through milestones, hardships, holidays, and ordinary days. Jim enjoyed birdwatching, hiking, tennis, photography, classical music, fine dining, watching sports, all things computer — and he shared all of that. Uncle Jim was a critical part of annual family vacations to Aspen Music Festival, horseback rides, raspberry picking, Sunday football, mountain picnics, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas. After attendants, Uncle Jim was the first to hold John and Nancy’s newborn daughter, and a generation later, the first to hold her newborn son. And so on….Several generations of both Bartlits and Wolfes dearly loved (Uncle) Jim and miss him already.
Jim held a private pilot’s license and owned an airplane which he flew to Pennsylvania to visit his Bergey family. Jim is survived by Bergey cousins, his allied families, and many friends. So many feel deep appreciation for Joyce and John Wolfe, whose vigilant care met Jim’s later needs.
Jim was laid to rest next to his parents, Albert and Rose Bergey, in Greenlawn Cemetery, Lansdale, PA. A graveside memorial service on July 16, 2026, was assisted by Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Lansdale.
It is fitting that Jim returns to his origins near Philadelphia, America’s symbol of independence declared, of support pledged, and of brotherly love: mottos for our country, lived out by the man.
