Bernard E. "Bernie" Leaffer

FALMOUTH — Bernard E. "Bernie" Leaffer, age 84, of Falmouth and formerly Malden, died of heart failure, on April 6, 2008, at the Royal Nursing Center, Falmouth.

Born on July 15, 1923, in East Boston, to Joseph and Leah (Hurvich) Leaffer, he is survived by a son, Douglas and daughter-in-law Elyse of North Andover; two grandchildren, Cerena and Joshua; a sister, Harriet Delapena of Revere; and a niece, Michele Delapena of Tucson, Ariz.

A 1942 graduate of Revere High School and graduate of Bentley College with an accounting degree, Bernie worked the majority of his career for the commonwealth of Massachusetts, retiring in 1990 from the Department of Environmental Protection.

In retirement on Cape Cod, he discovered a love of abstract art painting, swimming and musical studies of the cello. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries and coffee shops, and won several awards. Bernie was also an active member of the Falmouth Jewish Congregation and Falmouth Artist Guild.

A loving and devoted father, brother, uncle and grandfather, Bernard Leaffer was preceded in death by his lifelong companion, wife Sally (Levine) Leaffer, to whom he was married for 47 wonderful years.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at the Falmouth Jewish Congregation, in the Community Center Building, 7 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth, Tel: 508-540-0602, followed by interment in the Falmouth Jewish Cemetery. His son Douglas and family will receive visitors in their North Andover home Thursday and Friday, April 10 to 11, Tel: 978-725-3639.