Herbert M. Berger Jr. was born February 8, 1954, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the third of three children born to Herbert and Miriam Berger. He grew up in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania.

After graduation from high school in 1972, Herb worked in the local clothing factories as a knitting machine operator and, in his spare time, volunteered at the Liberty Fire Company #4 in Schuylkill Haven. He decided he wanted to make a career out of the fire service. He moved to Monroeville, Pennsylvania, and lived at Monroeville Fire Station #4 while taking fire science classes at Allegheny Community College.

Herb married his high school sweetheart, Susan Godfrey, in 1977. They moved to New Carrollton, Maryland, in 1979, and Herb attended the University of Maryland and ran with the West Lanham Hills Fire Company #28. In his last year of college, he was hired by the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire in Pennsylvania on March 4, 1981, and proudly wore Badge No. 45.

He and his wife purchased an old farmhouse in 1982 and did a total refurbishment of the house and grounds. He ran a coal delivery business on his days off from the fire department. In 1986, their daughter, Kathryn, was born. In 1987, Herb and his wife purchased a wooded lot, became the general contractors, and built their house.

Herb was promoted to lieutenant on May 18, 1987, and to captain on July 15, 1996. On December 23, 2002, Captain Berger was promoted to battalion chief, a position he held until his retirement. He retired after 31 years as an outstanding firefighter and officer on March 28, 2012.

Herb was one of the founding members of Harrisburg’s Rescue One and was an active member of Pennsylvania Task Force 1 and Urban Search and Rescue. He responded to the World Trade Center and Hurricanes Floyd, Sandy, and Katrina, among other deployments.

Herb and his family were avid skiers. He taught numerous fire schools locally and at Harrisburg Area Community College. After retirement he did plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning work for friends and family. Herb passed away on December 3, 2019, of Stage 4 prostate cancer.

Herb was a loving son, husband, father, friend and a respected professional firefighter. He touched many people and is deeply missed.