Ernest Joseph Berger, 1932-2020

Former Dranesville Supervisor Ernest Joseph Berger died at home on September 25, 2020. He was laid to rest today following a Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Spirit Church in Johns Island, South Carolina.

A devout Catholic, Berger was actively involved with John F. Kennedy’s 1960 run for the White House. He became a Republican in 1963, and would later call Ronald Reagan his “hero.”

In 1991, Berger was elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, where he steadfastly championed fiscally conservative ideals. “Often, government is not the solution; it is the problem,” Berger said in a 1994 interview. “I don’t think the county should be providing services that private industry can do better and for less money.”

Fairfax GOP Chairman Steve Knotts lauded Berger’s memory in a statement issued today. “Ernie Berger was known to all as a strong Republican and a great man,” Knotts said. “We are thankful for Ernie’s service to Fairfax County; and we extend our sincere condolences to his many friends and loved ones.”