Bernard Tieger

Bernard "Bernie" Tieger

Tivoli - Bernard "Bernie" Tieger, 84, died on Monday, January 20, 2014. He was born on August 24, 1929 and raised in the Bronx during the Depression, to Jeanne (De Vorzon) and Henry Tieger.

As a young man he worked for the New York Central Railroad and became active in the labor movement. He attended City College and NYU while driving a taxi to support his growing family. Strongly influenced by Granville Hicks' Small Town, Bernie became fascinated by the study of 'community', particularly in the context of rural village life. In 1967, when he was offered a position teaching sociology at Bard College, he readily moved his family to Tivoli. A few years later with colleagues Irma Brandeis and Frank Oja, he began a "University Without Walls" program that eventually became the Continuing Studies Program of Bard College. In this program, local adults were able to matriculate at Bard and earn a college degree.

Bernie was deeply committed to the Tivoli community, serving on many of its boards. In 1972, while on the Village Board, he spearheaded the three-day Tivoli Centennial, which later became the annual Tivoli Day. After he retired from Bard, he fulfilled his longstanding dream of opening a used bookshop, which operated for the next 20 years. During this time, he also served as the Village Historian, and in 2012 published the book TIVOLI The Making of a Community.

Bernie was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Richard Tieger. He leaves behind his wife of 30 years, Patricia "Trish" Laub Tieger, as well as five children and their families. His children include: Daniel Tieger and his family; Kari Tieger Brennan (Ollie Brennan and their son Jon); Helene Tieger (Paul Ciancanelli and their sons Shane, Zach, and Ian Skye); Rachel Tieger; and Toby Tieger.

Memorial Service to be determined by the family and will be announced.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made to either the Tivoli Free Library at P.O. Box 400, Tivoli, NY 12583 or the Bard College Scholarship Fund in memory of Bernard Tieger. Please send donations to: Susan White, Bard College, P. O. Box 5000, Annandale on Hudson, NY, 12504 or online at annandaleonline.org/giving.

Arrangement are under the direction of Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 7461 S. Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571.

To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.Burnett-White.com,