In memoriam: Val M. Berry, 1962 - 2011

Val M. Berry was born to James M. and Charlene Berry in New York on Jan. 29, 1962. He left us to be with his Savior on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011. He died in Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Val was welcomed to the George Washington University family as the first chief human resources officer in 2006 and was promoted to vice president in 2008. Val was brought in to oversee all human resources functions for staff, including benefit services, training and development, staff and compensation, data management, EEO, employee assistance program, employee relations and GW Colonial Community, reporting directly to the president.

Val went to GW after more than 20 years working in the field; he went there from being senior professional human resources officer at Western Washington University for four years. Val was assistant vice president of human resources at Florida International University in Miami and managed labor relations at Columbia University. He also worked for the Anti-Defamation League.

Val has written, delivered speeches, and taught classes on strategic planning, human resources and labor relations. He was a past president of the Florida chapter of the College and Professional Association for Human Resources (2000 - 2002).

Berry received his M.S. in human resource development from Florida International University and his B.S. in industrial labor relations from Cornell University. He graduated from Fordham Prep the Bronx.

Val will always be remembered for his easy smile and jovial laughs, his desire to make everyone around him happy and his want for a million friends.

He leaves behind his mother and father, James and Charlene A. Berry of Deltona, Fla.; a wife; a brother, Von M. Berry of Baltimore, Md.; a sister, Kimberly Faulcon; a brother-in-law, Kevin Faulcon; nieces Ashley and Aliyah Faulcon, of East Brunswick, N.J.; four loving children, Alex, Korin, Kristan and Veronica; and one grandchild, Lucia Berry. He also leaves numerous other relatives in New York, where he grew up, and in the Detroit, Chicago, Birmingham, Ala., and Seattle areas.

A memorial service for Val will be held at a later date.

Condolences can be addressed to either Val’s parents or his sister at the following addresses:

James & Charlene Berry
865 E. Lehigh Drive 
Deltona, Fl. 32738

Kimberly Faulcon
88 Central Avenue
East Brunswick, N.J 08816