Brother Bergstrom was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 28, 1941. He and his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1946. He graduated from West High School in 1959. “Boots” (his nickname then and now) entered the University of Arizona and pledged Phi Gamma Delta in the fall of 1959. He was a very active undergraduate who served in Sophos, was the President of Chain Gang, and was in Bobcats. He was chairman of the 1962 Homecoming Parade. Within the chapter, he served as a rush chairman and President. Boots was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1963, graduating with distinction. Boots was a member of the R.O.T.C. and upon graduation was deemed a Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Following graduation in 1963, Boots was awarded the Cecil J. Wilkinson Memorial Fellowship which allowed him to defer active duty and earn a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration at the UofA. In 1964, he began his active duty commitment and served in the Army Adjutant General Corp.
After leaving military service in 1966, Brother Bergstrom began a 12-year career in education in the Scottsdale Arizona Unified School District serving in the capacities of teacher, assistant principal and principal. From 1979 to 1983, Boots left education and held a number of different positions in construction, manufacturing, consulting, and accounting. In 1992, Brother Bergstrom and his wife Linda purchased an Alpha Graphics franchise in Northeast Phoenix. For the next seven years, he enjoyed the life of being a successful business man and in 1999 sold the franchise.
During his career Brother Bergstrom was very active in the community and in professional service with organizations such as, Scottsdale Leadership, Boys and Girls Club, Arizona Commission for Civic Leadership, and in Little League. Boots and his wife Linda met in high school and have been married for over 47 years. They have three sons who live in the Phoenix area. Boots and Linda share time living in Scottsdale and in their home in Pinetop.
Brother Bergstrom says that “Phi Gamma Delta and the Upsilon Alpha Chapter have been such an influence on my life. My pledge brothers and I were fortunate to have exemplary leadership and training from those Fijis who preceded us. I believe it is each Fiji’s profound responsibility to preserve the learned values of brotherhood, life-long friendships, trust, faith, commitment, and applying one’s abilities to benefit those brothers who follow us as well as the communities in which they live.”