Mr. Arthur M. Bjontegard

Arthur M. “Art” Bjontegard, Jr., of Columbia and Debordieu Colony, Georgetown, SC, died on Wednesday, June 29, 2016. He was born in Lynn, Mass. on March 23, 1938, the son of Arthur M. Bjontegard, Sr. and Winifred Cook Bjontegard. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Wilma Joy Bjontegard, son, Arthur M. “Martin” Bjontegard, III (Yuki) and daughter, Karla Bjontegard Johns (David) and grandchildren, Arthur M. Bjontegard, IV, Nikko Joy Bjontegard, Zake Go Bjontegard, David Max Johns, Jr., and Kirby Bjontegard Johns, as well as a number of cousins. Art was raised in Marblehead, Mass., and educated there at the Tower School and later in the public school system in Marblehead, Duke University, the University of Virginia School of Law, the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and the Harvard Advanced Management Program. He began his career as an attorney with the U.S. Treasury Department, followed by numerous positions with the South Carolina National Bank, advancing to the Presidency and COO of the South Carolina National Corporation, the owner of the South Carolina National Bank and a number of other financial companies in the Southeast. He was a Board member of the S.C. Bankers Association, the Chair of the Security Division of the American Bankers Association and was named Young Banker of the Year by the S.C. Bankers Association. After retirement from banking he was the CEO of the Independent Colleges and Universities of S.C. and the Charter Chairman of the Board of the S.C. Public Employee Benefit Authority. Art tirelessly promoted his community and State by founding or serving on numerous non-profit Boards and Commissions that promoted major business involvement in education, governance, race relations and the cultural life and wellbeing of our citizens, particularly senior citizens, the handicapped and the needy. In the field of education he was a Founder and President of the Spring Valley Education Association which was believed to be the first private nonprofit formed to solely benefit a public school and which mothered 38 additional similar educational nonprofits in S.C. and Georgia with free legal and governance materials and total support services until they could become independent. He was also President of the S.C. Council on Economic Education, President of The University Associates (USC), President of the S.C. Department of Youth Services Foundation, Treasurer and Commissioner of Midlands Technical College, and a Board member of the Children’s Trust Fund. He was named the Man of the Year by Richland School District Two, the S.C. School Boards Association, and the S.C. Department of Education. A cradle Episcopalian, in the field of religion he was Junior and Senior Warden at several parishes, the Treasurer of the Diocese of Upper S.C. where he also served as Chair of its Foundation, a Trustee, Chair of the Investment Committee, a member of the Bishop’s Council, Treasurer of the Church Home for Children in York, S.C., and many time elected Deputy to the triennial National Episcopal Church General Convention, serving during and between General Conventions on its Program, Budget and Finance Committee, Investment Committee, Audit Committee, State of the Church Committee and Pension Committee. In race relations Art was President of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council, President of the Friday Luncheon Club, Co-Chair of the United Negro College Fund Telethon, and was named Man of the Year by the Columbia Urban League. In the general community Art was President of the Greater Columbia United Way and the S.C. United Way, the Board Member of Palmetto Health and Chair of its Investment Committee, a founder and President of the Central Carolina Community Foundation, Vice Chair of the Investment Panel of the S.C. Retirement System, Founder and President of the Capital Senior Center, President of the Midlands Sertoma Club, Vice Chairman of the local Chapter of the American Red Cross, Board member of the Cultural Council of the Midlands, Board member of the Federation of the Blind, Board member of both the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, and a Commissioner of the Columbia Housing Authority. He was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Carroll Campbell. Art was a member of the Forest Lake Club, the Palmetto Club and the Debordieu Club. A memorial service will be held 11 o’clock, Saturday, July 2nd at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia, after which a reception will be held in Satterlee Hall. Inurnment in the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Columbarium will be private. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5 until 7 o’clock at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia.

Tributes

Mr. Arthur M. Bjontegard

March 23, 1938 - June 29, 2016