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Ralph Bernard Obituary
Ralph Bernard, 94, passed away after a short illness.
Ralph was born in Barberton on August 5, 1915 to William Bernard and Eugenia Yeck Bernard. He grew-up in Barberton, attended St. Augustine grade school and Barberton High School where he was a guard on the football team. Both he and his brothers graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Engineering. During World War II, Ralph entered the United States Coast Guard, became a Lieutenant, and served in the South Pacific building aircraft guidance stations. For over seventy years, Ralph worked at the Bernard Construction, Pipeline and Realty companies as an employee, officer and owner.
Ralph was a professional registered engineer in the state of Ohio for over fifty years and achieved Life Member status in the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers. For many years he was a Member of the Board of Directors for First National (now First Merit) Bank.
As a board member of Archbishop Hoban High School, he developed a keen awareness of benefits and challenges of Catholic education. To provide ongoing support for Catholic education, Ralph and his wife Florence established the Ralph and Florence Bernard Foundation, The R.L. and F.A. Bernard Scholarship Fund of Archbishop Hoban High School, the R. L. and F.A. Bernard Scholarship Fund of St. Vincent St. Mary High School and the R. L. and F.A. Bernard Fund of Our Lady of the Elms High School.
Ralph was a member of St. Hilary Parish, Fairlawn and Portage County Clubs.
Ralph was preceded in death by his loving wife, Florence; his sisters, Madeline Pittenger, Genevieve Weigand; his brothers, William P. Bernard and Vincent Bernard. He is survived by his son, Ralph L. Bernard, Jr.; daughter, Regina A. (Anthony) Dain; 8 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Calling hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday November 10th at the Ciriello and Carr Fairlawn Chapel, (39 S. Miller rd). The Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Hilary Church on Wednesday, November 11th at 9:30. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to St. Vincent St. Mary High School, Archbishop Hoban High School, St. Augustine Church in Barberton, OH. Our Lady of The Elms High, School or St. Hilary Church.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ralph Bernard
William Myers
April 16, 2010
Thank you God up above for the gift of
memory. When I grow gray and old, I will have memories more precious than
gold. My mother Dorothy was the youngest of the Adam Bernard family. As long as I can remember she had such
beautiful family memories, her parents,
brothers, sisters relatives. She was
responsible as I grew up for my admiration of the family and relatives.
Ralph rightly so was a role model for me. I had special admiration for him,
as being an very exempliary Catholic
person, family man, business man. I shared with Ralph how I admired him and
how he was an important influence in my life and career, as his father and brothers were. Although my family moved
from Barberton to Detroit, Washington, D.C. to Baltimore I was happy and proud to keep in touch with Ralph along the way. I was thrilled when he also would phone. Certainly Ralph, the family have and are part of all those memories more precious than gold. May he rest in peace. God bless, Bill Myers, Cousin
Carol Heller (Peck)
November 17, 2009
The family of the late Charles I. Peck, Sr., (long-time heavy-equipment operator, Bernard Pipeline and Construction Co.), wish to extend our condolences to the Bernard Family.
Maryanne Roman
November 16, 2009
Regina, Tony and kids, We know you will miss your Dad, GrandDad. The few times we spoke to him, we found him a delight. You are all in our prayers. Love The Romans
Ann Panuska
November 15, 2009
Dear Regina,
I was so sorry to hear about your Dad. My memories of him are of course while we were in high school and my many overnights at your house. Both he and your mom were just the best! He had such a sweet smile and seemed like a very gentle soul. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ann Hart Panuska
Michael & Melanie Galie
November 14, 2009
Dear Dain And Bernard Family, Our deepest sympathy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
November 12, 2009
Dear Regina' I am so very sorry to learn of the death of your father. You were lucky in that, you had him a long time. It is so hard! I will be thinking of you and you will be in my prayers. Sheila Martin, Class of 65.
Peggy O'Neil-Ross
November 11, 2009
Dear Regina,Ralph and family,
My prayers are with you. I'm so sorry for your loss. Your mom and dad were always so kind and generous to all of us O'Neils'. I fondly remember all the picnics at your house! Florence must be happy to have her beloved Ralph with her. God Bless.
love,
Peggy O'Neil
Bill Myers
November 11, 2009
Cousin Ralph in his life reminds us of the words of St. Matthew""Well done, thou good and faithful servant."There is more love and meaning than what we can imagine in our memories. Now he is close as a prayer.
Cousin Bill, Eleanor Myers and family
Bill O'Neil
November 10, 2009
I often think of the great times I had as a child "staying over" at Aunt Florence's and Uncle Ralph's. The trips with Ralph Jr. and Uncle Ralph to the Bernard Construction "yard" or to the farm. He was a kind, gentle man and will be missed. He has done wonderful works for the young people of the area. Thank you.
November 10, 2009
Dear Bernard Family,
Our deepest sympathy to all of you. We enjoyed Ralph's visits. He was a wonderful man.
Dr. Paul and Dee Coleman, Duna and Beth
November 10, 2009
Regina,
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your father.
Sincerely
Chuck Myers
November 10, 2009
To Ralph Bernard's Family,
The St. Vincent-St. Mary Alumni Association would like to take this moment to express our deepest sympathy to you. We were thrilled to welcome Ralph into the STVM Alumni Association as an honorary member when he received the Irish Crusader Award in April 2009. He will truly be missed.
Sincerely,
Kathy Zehenni Holaday VM77
STVM Director of Alumni
November 10, 2009
Dear Bernard,
My thoughts go out to all of you for the loss of such a great, generous and wise man. He will be missed but please know that he has changed the lives of so many children at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. I loved seeing him at so many of our events and he always had a warm smile. Prayers to all of your family. ~Jennifer Ringer
St. Vincent-St.Mary High School
Susie Wallace
November 10, 2009
Dear Bernard Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I had the wonderful opportunity to know your father through the St.Vincent-St.Mary HS Family & Memorial Scholarship Program and our Showcase event. Your father touched the lives of so many young people at STVM through the gift of a Catholic education. May you find comfort in his beautiful legacy. God Bless!
Carol Lieb
November 10, 2009
Dear Regina and all the Bernard families,
I'm so sorry for your loss, but happy to know you had so many years with him in your lives. How good that your families got to know and love him.
I will pray that you all be comforted throughout this difficult time and that you find joy in the many memories that you have shared.
Love and Blessings, Carol (Phillips) Lieb
Donald Utrup
November 10, 2009
Dear Bernard Family, Our deepest sympathies go out to all of you on the death of a great and generous gentelman. For years to come many students will be helped to receive a quality education as a result of the scholarships that Ralph has endowed. Our prayers are with all of you and for Ralph. Don Utrup, President, St. Vincent - St. Mary Endowment Board and the Boardof Trustees
Thomas Carone
November 10, 2009
Please accept my deepest sympathies. Mr Bernard's generosity and support has changed many lives of students at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, by providing them the opportunity to receive the wonderful experience of a Catholic Education.
Sincerely,
Thomas M. Carone
St. Vincent-St. Mary High School
November 10, 2009
Dear Bernard Family,
Our family was so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. Our son received a scholarship from St.Vincent- St. Mary because of your dad. He will be remembered in our prayers. God Bless
The Brinkerhoff-Walsh Family
Patricia Ostroski
November 10, 2009
To the family--both Mr. and Mrs. Bernard did a lot of great things for the community. They were great examples.
Joanne Zaratsian
November 10, 2009
Regina, Ralph, Eileen and Family,
On behalf of the faculty, staff and students of St. Vincent-S. Mary High School,please accept our sympathies on your loss. Many years ago, Mr. Bernard established the R.L. and F.A. Bernard Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to deserving students. When he started this scholarship at STVM, he said, "I am making this offer in memory of Florence, who was a graduate of St. Vincent High School, because she was always interested in enthusiastically helping others." Their legacy will benefit generations to come. For the past ten years, I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Bernard, and I have enjoyed hearing the stories about the city of Barberton, his father, and how to make a good speech. I also enjoyed hearing about all of the schools that he supported because of his commitment to Catholic education. Mr. Bernard's favorite poem was "The Dash" by Linda Ellis. He truly lived his life as described by the poem. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. I am proud he was my friend, and I will miss him.
Sincerely,
Joanne Zaratsian
St. Vincent-St. Mary High School
Howard Kent
November 10, 2009
To The Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Mr. Bernard was a longtime customer of ours, and was always a pleasure to be around.
Howard and Gina Kent
Jack and Marilyn Kent
The Staff at Kenmore Tailors and Clothiers
Carla Bouschere-Steiner STVM and Theta Phi Alpha
November 9, 2009
Dear Bernard Family,
Ralph was a kind and gentle man, whose generosity to the many students, not only at St. Vincent-St. Mary, but at other area Catholic high schools has been a true blessing. I had the great pleasure of meeting Ralph through our Showcase event. The most important thing I can think of to say is, "Ralph your DASH has been fulfilled."
November 9, 2009
Dear Bernard Family,
You are in our prayers. I hope you find comfort in the knowledge that your father made a positive impact on so many people in so many ways. He will be truly missed.
Carli Kistler Miller
Executive Director of Operations
Our Lady of the Elms School
November 9, 2009
Ralph was such a generous and caring man who will be missed by so many people. He was truly special to me.
Jeanie
Brother Joseph Fox csc
November 9, 2009
My prayers are with Ralph and the family. I have fond memories sitting and talking with Ralph at many Archbishop Hoban High School functions. A man who was caring for so many.
November 9, 2009
To the Bernard Family:
I have fond memories of Ralph annd Florence. Ralph was so supportive of me as President of Hoban High School. He was a quiet, serene man who new his business well and always backed up sound advice with close personal support. Hoban has lost a great friend.
Brother Richard Gilman, csc
President
Holy Cross College,
Notre Dame, Indiana
November 9, 2009
Dear Bernard Family,
I am very sorry for the loss of your father. He has inspired and touched the lives of many in the Hoban Family, both students and adults, through his kindness. We will miss him deeply. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Sarah A. Weber '82
Archbishop Hoban High School
November 9, 2009
To the Children of Ralph and Florence Bernard
Please accept my sympathy. I knew your father quite well. I am an architect, and his company built many buildings according to my drawings. But he was more than a business friend to me . . . . always kind, polite, friendly . . . . I liked him a lot. May Ralph and Florence Bernard rest in peace. Amen
Sincerely
Robert M Kraus
Akron
Jami Phillips
November 8, 2009
Regina, Anthony, and family,
I am so sorry for the loss of your father. I will always remember his kind smile and quiet demeanor. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you now and in the days to come.
With deepest sympathies,
Tony, Jami and Abby
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