Frederick A. Berger, a plastics industry veteran and co-founder of an injection molding factory, died Feb. 26 after suffering a stroke. He was 88.
Berger started at Lester Engineering in Cleveland in the 1940s, in the early days of injection molding machines. Later, he worked at Century Products. He became plant manager of the plastics department at General Electric Co.'s vacuum cleaner plant in Cleveland.
At Van Dorn Plastic Machinery Co., Berger worked as a process specialist and did consulting.
In 1970, at the age of 55, he moved into the world of molding by co-founding Thermo Plastics Inc. in Brook Park, Ohio. The company later was known as Lewart Co. He designed numerous plastic parts, including injection molded carrying handles for milk jugs.
A 48-year member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, Berger served as president of the Cleveland Section in 1977. He was named SPE's Man of the Year in 1985.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Eunice, and six children. Berger's sons, Ken and Mark, and son-in-law Bob DuMound operate Molders Choice Inc. in Solon, Ohio.
