Bernard George Sloan

It is with deep sadness that the Sloan-Stoerger family share the news of the passing of Bernard (Bernie) G. Sloan. He died unexpectedly at his home in Highland Park, NJ on March 15, 2022 at the age of 72.

Bernie was born in Indianapolis, IN to Margaret and Bernard Sloan and grew up in Evansville, IN. He graduated from St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, IN and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). It was at UIUC where he established his career as a librarian, working for the Illinois Library Computer Systems Organization (ILCSO), now the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI). He was always an ardent supporter of libraries and the services they provided to faculty, students, and the community. Bernie retired from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in 2007.

Throughout his career and beyond, Bernie was an avid bird watcher who shared his enthusiasm for nature with several environmental organizations. During the many times he spent exploring outdoors, Bernie captured moments through his photographs in ways that inspired awe by viewers of his work. Most of his photographs were taken close to home, but Bernie welcomed opportunities to explore state parks, such as McCormick's Creek State Park, Owen County, IN and Antelope Island State Park, Salt Lake City, UT.

In addition to everything that nature and the outdoors had to offer, watching sports was a major pastime for Bernie. He thoroughly enjoyed college football and basketball, and March Madness was one of his favorite times of the year. Having spent much of his life in Illinois and working for UIUC, he was a fan of the Fighting Illini. After moving to New Jersey, he also rooted for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

When Bernie wasn’t outside or watching basketball, he experienced great joy when around family and friends, particularly his two sons - Samuel (Sam) and Zachary (Zack) - that he raised in Urbana, IL.

He was a supportive father who coached Sam and Zack’s basketball teams, spent countless hours fishing with them, purchased endless amounts of Monical’s Pizza, opened his home to their friends, took them on many character developing road trips, facilitated their varied interests, and allowed his home and garage to be repurposed into an arcade, skateboard park, hockey arena, and table tennis stadium.

Bernie, Grandpa BG, and Papa G was also a devoted grandfather to his grandchildren - Elijah, Antonio, Luc, and Ted - and followed their lives from afar or in person during his many extended stays in Utah. His grandchildren took great pride in finding ways to make him nervous by demonstrating their climbing, biking, skiing, scootering, and many other daredevil activities. He will be fondly remembered by many for his shadow selfies, jeopardy commentary, and his nature chronicles near his home in New Jersey.

Bernie is preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Bernard, and his older brother, James. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Stoerger, Highland Park, NJ, his two sons - Sam and Zack - and four siblings: Steven Sloan, Billings, MT, Mark Sloan, Santa Rosa, CA, Mary Ellen (Sloan) Murnane, Ewa Beach, HI, John Henry Sloan, Albuquerque, NM, and Chris Sloan, Salt Lake City, UT.

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