On the morning of Friday October 4th, Norbert R. "Bert" Darga, age 92, passed away while in slumber. The end was as gentle as the man himself, at the end of a long and interesting life.
Born in Detroit on November 9, 1931 to Emil Darga and Agnes Kowalski Darga, Bert was one of 5 siblings and the eldest son. In his early life, he loved hunting and the great outdoors. He studied to join the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary (to the joy of his parents) but ultimately chose a different path. After high school Bert enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a writer for Stars and Stripes while stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He then attended and graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in journalism. During his college years he met his future wife, Barbara, and after their wedding in 1956 they relocated from Michigan to New York City.
Once settled in New York, Bert parlayed his military experience and college education into a career in publishing, serving as an editor, writer and photographer for magazines such as Outdoor Life, True, and Sports Afield. In addition to his experience in the publishing field, he also penned two books: The Survival Bible (1982) and The Executive Sourcebook (1985). These two works captured two sides of Bert, though his heart was always really in the wilderness. In the mid 60's, he and Barbara had purchased a plot of land in the Catskills, known colloquially in the family as "The Acres", upon which he built a small but sturdy one-room cabin which stands to this day. It is the setting of many family retreats and will be an enduring piece of his legacy and his love.
Bert is survived by his wife Barbara, his children Margaret and John (his proudest accomplishments), their spouses Philip Ruzzi and Stephanie Darga, his four grandchildren: Olivia, Isabella, Juliette, and Jack, and his siblings Jerome and Joanne.
Bert was not religious but found spiritual comfort in nature. His ashes will be scattered at The Acres and on Cape Cod, his two favorite places on Earth. His family mourns his passing but is grateful for the many, many years they had together.
Please offer you condolences for Bert and his family at www.BuonoFuneralService.com