Virginia M. Bescherer (Ginny) passed away peacefully in her home in Bristol, RI, on Wednesday, December 13. She was 90 years old.

Born in Pawtucket, RI, Ginny was one of seven children of William and Edith Berndt. From an early age, she was a talented pianist, playing in frequent concerts and winning the RI student musicians annual state competition in 1947. She loved music and continued her piano studies for her entire life.

Ginny graduated from the University of Rhode Island with an electrical engineering degree in 1949 – the sole woman in her engineering program. She then worked as an engineer at Blackstone Valley Gas & Electric. During these years, Ginny also fell in love with skiing, a sport that she pursued with abandon for the next 65 years.

Ginny met Bob Bescherer at a ski club party in 1957, sized him up as an expert in the sport, and the two were married in 1958. They had two daughters, Andrea and Suzanne, and moved to Bristol, RI, in 1961. After the girls started grade school, Ginny became a math teacher, working for 20 years at Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, RI.

After retiring from teaching, Ginny enjoyed every minute, traveling with Bob to such locations as China, Patagonia, New Zealand and The Galapagos Islands, as well as taking annual ski trips to the Alps or her favorite ski area Alta, Utah. She was also an avid golfer and bowler, participating in multiple leagues in the Bristol area, and a devoted grandmother who spent every Tuesday with her twin granddaughters for 16 years.

Ginny is survived by her loving husband Bob Bescherer and her daughters, Andrea Teichman of Medfield, MA, and Suzanne Klose of Kingston, RI, and two granddaughters, Emily Teichman and Sarah Teichman. She is also survived by her brother William Berndt of Indian Harbor, FL, and sister Joan Nelson of Charlestown, RI. She is predeceased by her parents, William and Edith Berndt, and her siblings Edith Bourbonais, Ruth Clark, David Berndt and Richard Berndt.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, December 21, from 4-8 pm at The First Congregational Church, 300 High Street, Bristol, RI 02809. A private burial will follow on Friday, December 22. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club, 10 City Square, Boston, MA 02129 or www.outdoors.org/tribute or to Blithewold Arboretum, 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809 or blithewold.org.

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