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Bernie was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the youngest of 5 children of Russian immigrants.  At age 5, he was already helping in his parents’ “Ma and Pa” grocery store by hawking shopping bags at 5 cents a bag. As time went by, Bernie’s tenaciousness and drive landed him at Purdue University where, with only a $29 car and a lamp to call his own, he worked his way through school while also enrolling in the ROTC program.

After Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Bernie’s university class was graduated 6 months early so they could enlist in the armed services. With his degree in electrical engineering, he was trained and served as a communications officer in the 940th Air Engineering Squadron and soon advanced to the rank of Captain. He served in both Korea and Japan as part of the Asiatic Pacific war front. He was the recipient of several medals including the WWII Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal.  After completing his active duty, Bernie continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve until 1955.

Bernie, like many of his “greatest generation,” did not talk much about his day-to-day experiences and hardships endured during World War II. However, one story he enjoyed passing on to his grandchildren was of a time he and a buddy met General Douglas MacArthur. They were stationed in Japan, and the General, as was his custom, traveled there with his wife. General MacArthur described his wife Jean as his “constant friend, sweetheart, and devoted support.” Since he would be occupied with military duties, General MacArthur asked Bernie and his buddy to entertain Jean. The two men took Jean out to the movies. What movie did the three of them see? No one ever thought to ask.

Returning home from active duty, Bernie rekindled his relationship with and soon married Katherine, with whom he had a daughter and a son. He worked many years as an electrical engineer and in management for Western Electric, and he enjoyed golf as his favorite pastime. He and Katherine joined the Fanwood Seniors where he was known for organizing the meeting breakfasts. Bernie cherished the memories of and good times he experienced with all he met along the way: his family, his Army buddies, his colleagues at Western, his fellow golfers, and neighbors and friends.