Bernard "Bernie" Browne

1923 - 2014

Browne, Bernard "Bernie"

Bernard "Bernie" Augustus Browne of Tarrytown, New York died at Phelps Memorial Hospital on August 12, 2014 after a recurrence of cancer. He was 91.

He was born on April 24, 1923 to Margaret (McGee) and William Martin Browne at the family home in the Bronx. He was the sixth of seven children, the two eldest of whom died in infancy. The family's lives centered around their neighborhoods in High Bridge and Poquage, NY in Dutchess County where they spent summers.

Bernie went to grammar school in the parish of the Sacred Heart, then attended Manhattan Preparatory School, the University of Vermont and Manhattan College where he earned a B.S. Degree. While a student, Bernie ran track, learned to play the saxophone and worked as an usher at the original Metropolitan Opera House in Manhatten where he learned the great operas.

He enlisted in the Army during WWII and saw active duty in the South Pacific where he learned to fly a plane. He enjoyed flying so much he continued to fly in civilian life and even for a time owned his own plane.

After the war, he worked for Ayerst Laboratories as a salesman. While working as a salesman, he met and married Ersilia "Cee" M. Pasquali in Kokomo, Indiana. Together they reared four children. They spent their early married life in Hartford, Connecticut, then moved to Washington Township, New Jersey and Wauwatosa, Wisconson, before finally settling in Tarrytown, New York. After leaving sales, Bernie worked at Ayerst in various management roles in marketing where he spearheaded the promotion of ground-breaking drugs such as Fluothane, the first general anesthetic without major side effects, and Inderal, one of the first beta blockers.

After retirement, Bernie spent his leisure time golfing, gardening and volunteering his time at the New York Botanical Garden and the Tarrytown Traffic Commission. He learned to play the harmonica and belonged to a weekly musical group. He was a member for fifty years of Transfiguration Church in Tarrytown, and in later years was an active member of the Tarrytown Seniors.

In addition to his wife, Ersilia Browne, Bernard leaves his four children, Kathleen Browne of East Walpole, Massachussetts, Brian Browne of Portland, Maine, William Browne of Hamptonville, North Carolina, and Rosemary Cerbone of Tarrytown, New York, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He also leaves two sisters, Noel Magyra of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Gloria Healy of Manhattan; a niece, Margaret Browne of Leonia, New Jersey, and a nephew, Stephen Magyra of Pawleys Island, South Carolina. In addition to his two sisters who died in infancy, Emily and Margaret, a sister, Anastasia "Peace" Donahue, and a brother William Browne, predeceased him.

Visiting hours are 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, August 15th at Dwyer-Vanderbilt Funeral Home, North Broadway, Tarrytown, New York. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, August 16th at 10:30 a.m. at Transfiguration Church on South Broadway, Tarrytown. Internment will be at Sleepy Hollow Cemetary, Sleepy Hollow, New York following mass.