Dawne Maureen Bernhardt

September 29, 1932 - July 9, 2023.

Daughter of Marion and Fredrick Bernhardt. Survived by Nephews Bruce Stephany, Stephen Stephany, Niece Beth Stephany. Grand Nieces, Breelyn, Alison and Janelle, Grand Nephews, Christopher, Jason,

Alec, Matthew and Goddaughter, Patty Mayall.

Very early in life, Dawne developed an insatiable quest for knowledge of cultures and places

around the globe. Dawne studied at University of Edinburgh, Scotland and graduated from UCLA. She then began teaching at Los Angeles High School while earning her M.A. in speech from UCLA.

For her focus as a Masters candidate Dawne chose Interpretation because it so closely related

to her interest in theater.

This prompted her to join Phi Beta, the National Professional Fraternity for Women in Music and

Speech. Dawne became president and among other productions, completed her tenure with a

Christmas production, as mistress of ceremonies, in a chorus line and with three musical

comedy routines. The show traveled to military camps and hospitals covering nearly two

thousand miles.

1956 She accepted a position with the US army in Germany, teaching students from military

families stationed in Berlin. Her first day in Berlin coincided with the start of the Hungarian

Revolution. She later transferred to Frankfort in order to Ski and travel to France and Italy.

She return to California and accepted a position as Dean of Girls at the new Mills High School.

1961 She joined the Flying Tigers as a Stewardess, able to travel and explore. She recalled

some of her favorite places being Hawaii, Morocco, Japan and Wake Island, (one of the few

places that she actually rested).

Then she received an offer to teach students from all over the world and found herself back in

California at Merritt College in Oakland. For the next twenty years she taught (ESL). She was

Foreign Student Advisor, Chairman of Speech Department, developed a multitude of programs

for public speaking, group dynamics, voice and diction, business and interpersonal

communication.

She made her home in San Francisco, on California St, Vallejo St, and finally Washington St

next to Lafayette Park. Her love for music and the arts was without limits, enjoying and

volunteering in venues throughout the city. She was an advocate for the Parks, lobbied to

increase the number of park rangers. Instrumental in the campaign to increase tree planting

throughout the city of San Francisco. She championed the restoration of Coit Tower.

1980 She started her own consulting firm, Executive Communications. For the next twenty

years She gave seminars, worked with executives, professionals, politicians and especially

enjoyed working with authors. She worked with over 50 different authors including New York

Times best sellers from communication specialists to romance novelists.

When Dawne's Birthday ended in a zero she looked for new challenges.

Traveling the world as a single woman alone at age 40, Japan, Korea, Burma, Vietnam,

Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, Iran Afghanistan India, Egypt and Turkey.

Conquering heights, age 50, Climbed the pyramid like temples in Mexico, Chichen Itza, and

Uxmal. Hundreds of stairs 6 inches apart. Climbed and crawled up Machu Picchu and walked

50 ft above ground across a 20 ft long tight rope between 2 trees.

Skydiving and firewalking, age 60.

Heli-hiking at 7,000 feet, age 70!

Amazingly, Dawne chronicled many of her adventures with annual holiday letters from 1954 to

2016. Dawne lived a truly inspiring life, the depths of which have amazed everyone who she’s

touched, from her family and friends from here and around the entire world!

One of many charities Dawne contributed to is called Women for Women International, In Lieu

of flowers, Support.womenforwomen.org