Maurice Richard Peter “Pete” Berard

September 03, 1939 – June 23, 2016

Maurice Richard Peter “Pete” Berard 76, of Lake Park who was known for his smile! Pete was born in Waterville, Maine on September 3, 1939 to the late Maurice Levi and Ellen Esther Rita Anketell Berard. Pete came to Valdosta by way of Moody Air Force Base, where he met and married the love of his life, Julie “Kitten” in 1963 and has been a resident of Lowndes County for fifty seven years. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and was strong in his faith. He was the owner of Pete’s Otto Shop in Valdosta. Mr. Berard was a veteran of the United States Air Force and a Proud American. He was a founding member of the Valdosta Yacht Club and the Muddobbers Motorcycle Club. Mr. Berard was active in the Radio Controlled Airplane group, the Porsche Club of American and the Crosley Group Owners. He adored his grandchildren and was a master woodcraftsman. Mr. Berard enjoyed cars, boats and cooking. Pete made an amazing number of friends with a lively and generous spirit and a great deal of humor. With Ben Olliff he founded Imported Auto Center then Pete’s Otto Shop (Otto being German for auto) in 1980 on Lee Street. A family business which is now operated by his son, Maurice “Tiger” Berard. People with old and new vintage foreign cars as well as every modern foreign car ever made brought them to Pete’s Otto from as far away as Atlanta and Jacksonville, sometimes those same vintage cars had been passed from father to son. Just as he knew cars, he also knew the owners making many of them friends for life. His interests also included vintage and modern motorcycles. In his younger days he enjoyed competing in cross-country motorcycle events. His knowledge of “all things that go” was encyclopedic; knowledge he passed on to his son who was raised at Pete’s Otto.