Hall of Famer Warren Berl passes at age 89

The following notice was published in the SF Chronicle's online SF Gate. Included is an online guest book where condolences for the family and remembrances can be shared. Some of his contributions to the Stanford men's golf team can be found here.


Warren Harry Berl August 24, 1920 - Nov. 22, 2009 Warren passed away peacefully at his home in San Francisco on November 22. Warren was a third-generation San Franciscan. He attended Galileo High School where he was captain of the golf team. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

He graduated from Stanford University in 1942. He was a member of the 1939 and 1941 NCAA Championship teams. In 1939 he was the Individual Conference Champion and NCAA Individual runner up. Warren was elected to the Stanford Hall of Fame for Golf in 1961.

During WWII he served as a Lieutenant on the U.S. Navy destroyer Aaron Ward, which was sunk in Guadalcanal, and the USS Downes. Warren's business career began in 1946 when he joined his father at Edwin D. Berl & Sons, a San Francisco investment firm established by Harry Berl in 1882. They merged with Sutro & Co. in 1957 where he was Chairman and President from 1971-1982 as well as Chairman Emeritus. His leadership at Sutro gained the respect and admiration from all those who worked with him. During his career he was on the Board of Governors of the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, Chairman and Governor of the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange, SIA Board Chair and Chairman of the Investment Bankers Assoc.

Active in the community, he was Director of the greater S.F. Chamber of Commerce, Chairman Emeritus Northern California Multiple Sclerosis Society, Honorary Lifetime Director of the Institute on Aging and a Mt. Zion Hospital Board member. He was a member of the Pacific Union Club, The Family Club and Lake Merced Golf and Country Club where he won 7 club championships.

The family would like to give special thanks for the care and devotion from Dr. Jim Davis, Francine, Lou, Hospice by the Bay, Vince, Lin and the staff at 1070. Warren is survived by his loving and devoted wife and best friend of 61 years Aline, his brother John Berl, his devoted children; Douglas and Jane, Cathy and Peter Deutsch and Susan Berl, his adoring grandchildren; Elizabeth, Michael, Natalie, Marion, Aleen, Jason, Shelby and Haley. Aline's love and dedication gave him the support and encouragement he needed to live life to the fullest, an inspiration to us all. His family, friends and community will miss him.

There will be no public service. However, donations in his memory may be made to National M.S. Society Northern California Chapter 1700 Owens St., Ste 190, San Francisco 94158 Berl/Tatum Scholarship c/o Stanford Athletic Department, 641 East Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-6150. Institute on Aging (IOA) 3330 Geary Blvd. San Francisco 94118

Zack Miller earns conditional status on Nationwide Tour in 2010

Zack Miller ('07) tied for 90th at the PGA Tour's final stage of qualifying school (Q-School) in a field of 152 players. The final stage was held at Bear Lakes CC in West Palm Beach over 6 rounds from Dec 2-7. Zack had rounds of 75-71-72-72-73-70, to finish 1-over par.

The low 25 finishers and ties earned PGA Tour cards, while the next 52 players earned fully exempt status on the Nationwide Tour for 2010 for the first 12 events. Zack was included in the remaining finishers who earned conditional status on the Nationwide Tour, also for the first 12 events. After 12 events, there will be a re-shuffling of status of the players based on 2010 play.

Complete results can be found here ---

San Rafael's Zack Miller ('07) goes for PGA Tour card at Q-school finale

The following article was written by Dave Allen for the Marin Independent Journal about Stanford's former All-American golfer, Zack Miller ('07).

Zack Miller knows he has the physical tools to compete with the best golfers in the world. Now the San Rafael native believes he has the mental focus to take his game all the way to the PGA Tour.

Miller, 25, is the closest he has been to earning his PGA Tour card - the golden ticket every professional golfer dreams of - when he plays in the third and final stage of the Q-school tournament beginning Wednesday at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. The top 25 scorers in the field of more than 150 golfers (which includes some big names like David Duval, Tim Herron and Jesper Parnevik) earn a 2010 card.

"My game has reached a whole new level and it has been about taking control of my emotions on the golf course," said Miller, a 2003 graduate of the Branson School. "I'm not concerned about my score out there. That takes care of itself. I'm hitting the ball great. I'm putting the ball great. These are products of my ability to control my emotions. I'm exciting to get out there and compete."

Miller tuned up for this week's showdown by challenging a couple records on a pair of Marin courses last week. Last Tuesday, he broke his own mark at San Geronimo Golf Course, shooting a 9-under-par 63. He followed that up by tying the course record at Novato's StoneTree Golf Club the next day. Miller carded a 6-under 66 to tie the mark set by Matt Dito, now the club pro at Eagle Vines in Napa.

"He is so hot right now," said Ken Maring, a former PGA caddie who played with Miller during the record-setting round at San Geronimo. "There is no question (he is good enough to play on the PGA Tour). We all knew he was dialed in (last Tuesday). You could see he was in for a special day."

To view the complete article click here.