Bernard P. Mullany

(Bernie, Bernardo)

In his own words: “As I look back on a life spent with some regrets,

most was what I consider a glorious adventure.”

Bernard Patrick Mullany, age 88, of The Villages, Florida, passed on from this life, Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Bernie was born on March 10, 1928, the fourth son of John T. Mullany and Mary Agnes Hayburn, in Waynesboro, PA. By 1933, three more children were born and all were daughters. During that time, the family relocated to South Mountain, Philadelphia, Lewisburg, and back to Philadelphia in 1942.

At fifteen years of age, young Bernard went to work as a deck hand on a sea-going dredge, the ABSECON. About a year later, in 1945, he voluntarily enlisted in the US Navy (yes, he lied about his age) and served on the USS CAPPS in the Pacific through the end of WWII. In 1947 he again enlisted, this time in the US Air Force, completing 26 years of continuous service. He loved his years in the military and often told people that his memories of the service would remain when all else was gone…and that was true. Since his tours of duty included stations across the U.S. from California to Bermuda, three international transfers (first with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Kindley Field, Bermuda, next with the 60th Field Maintenance Squadron in Kaufbeuren, Germany, and the 60TH CAMS in Dreux, France) , and numerous temporary duty assignments in such luxurious places as Saudi Arabia, Greenland, Iceland and Labrador. When we returned from Europe, Bernie’s career with the Strategic Air Command (SAC) brought him into the field of missile systems analysis leading to years of responsibilities for management of operations with the GAM77/AGM-28 Hound Dog Missiles. These are the squadrons he kept closest to after retiring in 1971. He was then part of the 823rd Air Division at McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, Florida.

After ending one interesting career, Bernie embarked upon another as a software consultant for NASA at the Merritt Island Space Center where he was part of the support group for both the Apollo and Columbia programs, and retired again in the late 90’s.

Along with his professional endeavors, he was an avid golfer, a passionate artist and, in partnership with his wife Berneida, raised two children. He loved traveling his entire life and made several trips to his ancestral home in Ireland. Over the past several years, he was also known to burst into song from time to time and graced a few special occasions with his favorite ballads. He is survived by daughter Mary, son Tom and his wife Allison, and granddaughter Ashley, all of whom live in Florida; as well as sisters Teresa Cain of Brigantine, New Jersey and Pat Perillo of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

A small service will be held at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha, Florida on Tuesday, May 2, 2016 at 3:00 pm. We would appreciate donations in his memory, to:

Cornerstone Hospice

601 Casa Bella

The Villages, FL 32162-9985

www.cshospice.org