Newport Beach resident remembered as caring person

Elia Powers

His birth name was Elder Ortberg. Friends called him “Jack.” And

judging by family comments, the nickname “Ward Cleaver” suited him

just as well.

“Growing up, it was like ‘Leave It To Beaver,’ ” said Jack’s son,

Jeff Ortberg. “I can honestly say I never saw my parents fight. My

dad was never mad and never angry.”

Ortberg, a 75-year Newport Beach resident, died Feb. 4 of cancer

at Hoag Hospital. He was 82.

Born in Bradley, S.D., Ortberg served in World War II with the

United States Coast Guard.

Ortberg was living in Southern California in the spring of 1948

when he was introduced to his future wife, Virginia.

She was living full-time in West Virginia and visiting Newport

Beach on a weeklong vacation. But she said she fell in love, and

promptly quit her job and moved in with Jack that summer.

The two bought a home on the Balboa Peninsula and were married in

August at the old courthouse in Santa Ana.

Following the war, he worked for the city of Newport Beach water

department, performing groundwork and installing pipes.

“He laid the foundation for areas like Coto De Caza,” Jeff Ortberg

said. “It was very important for him to get out and do something for

himself.”

So Ortberg started his own pipeline construction company along

with his brother-in-law, Ralph Irwin, and partner G.R. McKervey.

The company played an integral role in developments such as Turtle

Rock and Promontory Point, as well as the city of Irvine.

“So many of the areas now developed, my father laid the first

pipeline,” said Jennifer Ortberg, Jack’s daughter. “He was very proud

of that. He wanted to be an honest businessman.”

In his spare time, Ortberg loved to fish. Lake Powell, Utah, and

Bishop, Calif., were two of his favorite spots.

The Ortbergs enjoyed nothing more than taking a ride up the coast

with their Airstream trailer in tow on their way to camping trips.

They belonged to a club of fellow Airstream owners, and they traveled

across the country for group events.

Ortberg had a lifelong interest in gold mining and had a joint

venture with a Canadian company that worked in Alaska in the early

1980s.

Though he loved to travel, Ortberg’s children say their father was

present for the important family moments. He was significantly

involved in Jeff’s Boy Scout troop, and he rarely missed one of

Jennifer’s softball games or swim meets.

“He was such a caring person,” she said. “He had so many friends

who would do anything for him.”