Now a gesture as simple as renaming 20th Street in honor of Berkley, who died last December, will ensure his legacy of service will live on each time someone looks at the street sign and asks, "Who is Thomas L. Berkley?"

As evidenced by the festive, diverse crowd at Thursday's street-renaming ceremony outside the Oakland Post offices, there is no shortage of answers.

Berkley, a Republican in a very Democratic town, left his imprint on many facets of Oakland life, as friend and emcee Paul Cobb delighted in pointing out.

He was a doer with boundless energy. An idea man with a broad range of interests and a wealth of knowledge on any topic. He was also a mentor, teacher, friend, father and husband, Cobb said. Berkley accomplished so much in his life that the focus is almost always limited to highlights: He served as the city's first black port commissioner, credited with far-reaching vision that helped transform the Port of Oakland into a world-class container facility.

He formed the first black law practice in Oakland and later the largest, integrated bilingual law firm in the country. He founded and served as president of Beneficial Savings and Loan Association, and served for two years on the Oakland School Board. He was a track star at UCLA, and a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

So what would he say if he were around to see the street renamed in his honor?

"He'd probably laugh and wonder why they didn't do it before," said former Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris, Berkley's good friend and colleague.

"He meant a lot to the city over a long period of time," Harris said. "He had tremendous impact on public policy, politics ... he helped facilitate communication between different (factions) ... (he demonstrated that) a life well-lived is a life of service and he gave his service with every ounce of strength he had.

"You won't find too many elected officials who didn't respect his opinion."

And seek it they did, often before running for local, state or national office.

Oakland Vice Mayor Larry Reid, who authored legislation to have 20th Street renamed Thomas L. Berkley Way between Harrison and Castro, remembered the first time he met Berkley.

"I remember Elihu said, 'I have a meeting with Tom Berkley and I want you to come with me,'" Reid said. "After one hour, I knew more about China than (what I learned when I) got to China."

Berkley's widow, Velda, said she expected Tom was "smiling down, listening to the mariachis." Her husband spoke fluent Spanish, and his chain of five newspapers included El Mundo, the largest Spanish newspaper in the state. "He would be very proud."

Council President Ignacio De La Fuente addressed the crowd in Spanish, which he figured was appropriate because Berkley was a man who understood the value of communication and information in any language.

Mayor Jerry Brown spoke of the new "uptown" development that would bring many more downtown residents to Thomas L. Berkley Way. Another housing and office development by African-American contractor Alan Dones is planned for the block that holds the Post building.

"They couldn't have picked a better man," said friend Ruth Jones Villa, 96. "He was for the people."

The Oakland Tribune: Local News
Leanne McLaughlin, Managing Editor
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