James Thomas Bergstrom

Bergstrom, James Thomas Age 48, of Minneapolis and Barcelona, Spain, tragically passed away on April 10, 2018 while visiting his family in Charleston, SC during the Easter Season. Survived by loving spouse Mark J. Sweere of Minneapolis, and parents Rodney Bergstrom (USAF Senior Master Sergeant, ret'd.) and Maria Josefa Valdivieso-Bergstrom of Madrid, Spain; sister Sandra Escribano (Bergstrom) of Charleston, SC, many nieces and nephews, and dear friends and family in the U.S., Spain and worldwide. Jim was born on December 5, 1969 at Clark USAF Base in the Philippines. The first eight years of his life were spent at Torrejon AFB near Madrid, and then at bases in the U.S. and Germany. Having a mother from Madrid and an American father from Bemidji, Minnesota helped Jim have a deep love and appreciation for both beautiful places, as well as for the gift of growing up in a U.S. Air Force family. High school was spent along Florida's Space Coast, where a growing interest in computing began with his first Atari computer and his father's work with Raytheon as a civilian supplier of parts to NASA's space shuttle program. Immediately after high school Jim moved to Seattle. In his very early 20s, he was invited to testify before the Washington State legislature about the need to adopt non-discrimination laws against LGBT persons based on his own painful experience with a recent employer. A short time later Jim was hired by Boeing Aerospace, becoming the first non-degreed manager in their corporate history. He spent six months in Thailand retrofitting Boeing 737 aircraft, and seeing a great need for a technological advance, spearheaded Boeing's transition from paper aircraft documentation to digital. Jim's true passion led him eventually to work as an accomplished VFX (visual effects) artist and mathematical consultant in the film & television industry with Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, Prometheus, Wonder Woman, Game of Thrones and others among the many projects to which he brought his talents. Jim was civilly married to his partner, Mark Sweere, on June 20, 2011 at a private ceremony at Boston City Hall, to affirm their commitment of love for each other and to protect themselves during these times of uncertainty. In recent years they divided their time between their home on Lake Superior and most recently, Barcelona, Spain. Jim was deeply loved by all who came to know him. He lived a life of deep faith and love in action; a life of goodness, kindness, generosity, and a passion for justice for all those who suffer in our world. A beautiful Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for his life on April 19, 2018, followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, MN. All to the refrain of in paradisum..."May the angels lead you into Paradise, may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the Holy City, the New and Eternal Jerusalem. May you have eternal rest. Amen." Memorials: The Trevor Project, Center For Victims of Torture.