Bruce Dietterick, Jr.

Bruce "Nick" Dietterick, Jr. 92, formerly of North Market Street, Berwick passed away on Friday, May 19, 2014. More recently he had been a resident at Fritzingertown Senior Living Community near Drums. Born May 22, 1921, Nick was the son of the late Bruce C., Sr. and Madge (Shoemaker) Dietterick of Berwick. A graduate of Berwick Area High School in 1939 and was class president all through high school. He captained the 1939 basketball team and was named All-Pennsylvania second-team center for that year. He received a basketball scholarship to attend Temple University. He played for the Owls from 1939 to 1941 before enlisting the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942. After his honorable discharge, he returned to college at Penn State pursuing a major in Advertising in the School of Journalism. Nick again returned to basketball playing two years for the Nittiany Lions. In his last collegiate game against Colgate, he set a Penn State single game record of 27 points. Nick also played six years in the Eastern Professional Basketball League for the Sunbury Mercuries, Williamsport Billies, and Berwick Car Builders. On his return to Berwick, Nick worked for WHLM of Bloomsburg in sales. From 1948 to 1963, he was employed in various managerial capacities by the Wise Potato Chip Company. From 1964 until his retirement in 1989, Nick was employed in the University Relations Department of Bloomsburg University in the capacities of public relations and sports information, and was the Director of News and Media Relations at the time of his retirement. In 1965, he served as BU's golf coach. Nick devoted his life to his family and loved to participate in the sports of golf, basketball, tennis, table tennis, and racquetball. He was the voice of Berwick football announcing home football games for 32 years. In 1986, he was one of the first inductees in the Berwick High School's Hall of Fame and was named to the BHS All-Time All-Star Basketball Team. In 1946, he married Shirley V. Keller in St. Andrews Episcopal Church in State College. Nicks death completes a marriage span of 65 years to Shirley. He is survived by three sons, Bruce and his wife Susan of Dover, Pa., Gary and his wife Sally of Easton, Pa., and Brian and his wife Pamela of Templeton, California. There are six grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Nick was preceded in death by the following siblings; Jack L. Dietterick; Phylis Gearhart and her husband Kenneth; Karl Richard Dietterick and his wife Dorothy (Dot), and Betty Pressler. Nick's funeral service is 12:00 PM Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Christ Episcopal Church, 712 East 16th Street, Berwick. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 AM until time of the service. Mother Mary Kisner will serve as the officiant. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Walnut Street, Berwick. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Christ Episcopal Church, 712 East 16th St., Berwick, PA. 18603