Tuesday, September 6, 2016
In the fall of 1970, I enrolled at Centennial College in Secretarial Sciences. I was most fortunate to be in Mrs. Berdit's typing and shorthand classes. Not too many weeks passed when I found myself in hospital suffering from a kidney stone attack. I remained in hospital for two weeks and fell behind in my classes. Mrs. Berdit was at once very sympathetic and also concerned that I make up for lost time, especially in regards to learning Pitman shorthand. I confirmed my desire to continue in her classes and so she took me under her wing, spending extra time with me and always being very encouraging as I struggled to make up for lost time. By Christmas I was feeling pretty confident in my progress and by spring I had secured a full-time position at Procter & Gamble. I enjoyed a wonderful career as a secretary and executive administrator and I owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Berdit for her skill as a teacher, her belief in my ability and for instilling in all her students an understanding of what it meant to be a professional . To this day I still use Pitman shorthand to take messages and jot down quick notes, and have thought often of my wonderful teacher. Mrs. Berdit was vivacious, intelligent, thoughtful and always professional. On a lighter note, I recall the dark, rainy evening she gave my friend Sandy Scott (also one of her students) and me a ride home from college in her very sporty Mustang!
I am very sorry for your loss.
Regards,
Susan Carothers.
