Bernard Charles Gewirtz

God bless your soul up in Heaven, Bernie (aka "Boins"/Bernard). I know you are happy there, with your friends and relatives, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Love, Shirley Elizabeth Gifford

Bernie is still in our hearts. Maybe he is smiling on us from Heaven now. I would like to share an anecdote. I was going to have lunch with Bernie one day, and I was sitting on a low cement wall outside the Akasaka Berlitz School waiting for him. He came out of the building, and as he walked up to me, I suddenly felt such terrible itchiness that I jumped up, looking at the cement seat and exclaimed, "I must have ants in my pants!" He laughed uproariously, and I did, too! It must have been...

I am thinking about dear Bernie today at the anniversary of his passing. I am so glad that he made a final trip to his beloved Japan just before he became so sick. He had longed to visit Japan again to see old friends, and his dream was fulfilled. God bless your soul, "Boins".

Bernie was a dear friend to me. We used to enjoy long phone conversations chatting and often laughing together. I will always remember his goodness and kindness.

Bernie has been, and always will be one of my closest and dearest of friends. I was so fortunate - thinking back now, to have had the chance for us to meet when he flew to Japan in December. We were both under the weather at the time but brushed it off, determined to enjoy the evening together. When he informed me of his test results soon after his return, what he said has helped me through the pain of loss and grief I feel so deeply - which I would like to share with those who may find some...

Bernie was a very good friend.
I am so happy for the nice memory of having dinner with Bernie and some of his family here in NYC some years ago, as
well as the two times I visited him in Pompano. We had fun times and always laughed a lot together. We didn't have time to talk regularly on the phone, but when we did, it would always last an hour or so.Bernie was full of life, and lived life well, always considering the needs of others. I will very much miss my good-hearted friend.

Bernie hired me at Berlitz in Tokyo and he was always supportive and sympathetic when I ran t him with problems after becoming an Instructional Supervisor. RIP, Bernie.

I can only second Scott Sherwood's words. We – the union – may have caused him a lot of headaches, but we always respected Bernie. When I later moved to HQ as head of the OL dept. he was nothing but supportive. He was a good person and he will be missed. My condolences go out to his family.

As a teachers union member I sat across from Bernie during negotiations in Tokyo when he was in Human Resources. His opinion might have been different but we all felt he dealt with us respectfully. Though we didn't know each other well, he always had a few minutes to chat when we ran into each other on the street. He was a really nice guy and a gentleman. My condolences to his family.