Bert Haloviak, former director of the General Conference (GC) Office of Archives and Statistics (now known as Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research [ASTR]), passed away on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. He was 84 years old.
Work and Contributions
Haloviak was an Adventist scholar and passionate historian. During his 35 years of service in this ministry, he gained notoriety for his contributions to the development of ASTR. Dr. David Trim, director of ASTR, elaborates, “He and Dr. Don Yost, the first director of Archives and Statistics, set up all the systems and processes that are still the foundation of our work in the Archives today.”
Haloviak began working at the GC as a research assistant in 1975. It was his dedication and commitment to Adventist history that led him to become the director of ASTR in 1998.
As director, Haloviak made many contributions to the organization of historical records. As a “digital pioneer … [Haloviak] was responsible for taking the Office of Archives and Statistics online, creating four websites: adventistarchives.org, adventistyearbook.org, adventistdirectory.org, and adventiststatistics.org,” stated Trim. Through these websites, ASTR is able to provide the World Church with virtual access to thousands of documents, records, and archives.
Developing the content for the sites was no easy feat, and required patience, perseverance, and dedication. Trim explained, “Haloviak created an online archive of 1.5 million pages of digitized historic Adventist content.” Taking Adventist documents and records online was a major achievement of Haloviak’s. Today, scholars, researchers, and others are able to look up database content by word or phrase.
“This has been hugely beneficial to Adventist scholars and family tree researchers around the world,” highlighted Trim. “This database will continue to have a lasting impact as anyone researches the Adventist past.”
In addition to his extensive work for Archives, Haloviak authored several works about significant events in Adventist history. Furthermore, Alonzo Jones’ “righteousness by faith” sermons were one of Haloviak’s most significant discoveries within the archives office.
There is no doubt Haloviakhas enabled ASTR to keep informing and educating the Church body. Trim concluded, “While Haloviak retired in 2010, works follow him even today.” Despite this unfortunate loss, Jesus provides us with Advent hope. A glorious day will come when we will all be reunited with Him for eternity.
Haloviak leaves behind his wife, Mary Bidwell, and his two children, Kendra Valentine Haloviak and Brent Haloviak.
Please keep the Haloviak family and friends in your prayers as they mourn the loss of a father, husband, and friend.
