Statesman

Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Derek Montgomery/DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE Joe Berini, time keeper for UMD football, passed away this past Sat. Berini was 89.

A UMD legend has died. Joe Berini operated the time clock at UMD football games for 50 years but his time stopped on Saturday at the age of 89 in his Lakeside home.

Berini was a long-time fan of Duluth sports. He worked at multiple junior and high schools in Duluth including Ordean and East as a teacher, counselor and coach. He began keeping time at UMD football games in 1958.

In 2007, Berini told the Duluth News Tribune that when he was asked to be a timekeeper at UMD he said, "What the heck? If they need me, then I'll do it." I'd be there anyway."

Berini was keeping time when UMD's Sports Information Director, Bob Nygaard started in 1983.

"It's hard to believe that was halfway through Joe's career [at UMD]," Nygaard said.

Berini retired from his timekeeping position after the 2008 football season but he returned in 2009 as a spectator and even gave the ceremonial coin toss at UMD's last regular season football game of 2009.

Prior to that, Berini won the Bruce Benett award in 2004 for his volunteer service to UMD athletics.

Nygaard remembers the presentation of that award well and even keeps a picture of Berini accepting the plaque in his office.

"He's the kind of guy with a twinkle in his eye" Nygaard said. "I think he's the most genuinely kind man you'll ever meet."

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