Alexander Newport-Berra Obituary

Alexander Newport-Berra of Ashland, Oregon, died Sunday, July 20, 2014, from injuries sustained after a fall while hiking in the San Juan Mountains. He was 33.

Mr. Newport-Berra was born to Pat Newport and Harold Burton Berra Jr. on June 14, 1981, in Corvallis, Oregon. He graduated from Crescent Valley High School in 1999, then attended Oregon State University before graduating from the University of Hawaii.

Known as "Alex," he was a math teacher at the Siskiyou School in Ashland, a yoga instructor and a mentor and tutor for Ashland-area youths. In these roles, his family said, he inspired and empowered youths and adults alike – to believe in themselves, to challenge themselves and to appreciate and strive to better understand the physical and spiritual world around them. He was an avid endurance runner, cyclist, surfer, climber, skier and writer who explored the world, according to his family, traveling to Europe, South America and throughout the United States.

Mr. Newport-Berra had many close friends in the Durango area, according to family, and cherished the mountains of southern Colorado.

"He lived every day, every hour, indeed, every minute, to its fullest, taking in the joy, the beauty, the wonder and the magic of everyone and everything around him," his family said.

Much of his philosophy can be found on his blog at https://alexnberra.wordpress.com.

He is survived by his parents, Pat Newport and Harold Burton Berra Jr.; brother, Adam Newport-Berra; sister, McHale Newport-Berra; and one niece.

A gathering in his honor will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, at his home near McDonald Forest in Corvallis. Because there is no parking at the house, meet at 10:30 a.m. in the Crescent Valley High School parking lot. Another gathering will take place at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, at Grouse Gap on Mount Ashland. Plan to arrive by 4 p.m. and carpool if possible.