Still thinking of you and missing you, Bernie O.

Prof "O" was the best!  I chucked all of my college text books within minutes of leaving the last class...But I still keep my beat up, dog eared copy of "Please Understand Me". Bernie changed my life.  He taught me of the value of the differences in other's personality types. I think of him daily. What a teacher!

Whenever I'm driving in my car and listening to Jazz from Hawaii, I think of Bernie O. I only took one of his classes at Hawaii Pacific University, but he made a major impact on my life.

Hope you're resting in peace, kind sir.

Bernie is the only person who has ever understood me completely in this world, he was definitely a soulmate. Never judged, never said anything hurtful, just loved sharing his knowledge with everyone who was interested.

I always lost interest in classes because I always got bored from the slow pace monotonous pace, and since I was required to maintain a full time student status as a foreign student, I ended up with straight A's of F's as I didn't even attend the classes so that my status wouldn't change. Bernie got a special permission from the school to have me enroll in accelerated classes with him. I ended up completing 12 classes in 1 semester, with full semester loads including tests and homework, each class lasting about 2.5-3 weeks (taking 2-3 classes at once). I learned more in those classes than I would have ever done in full semesters.

I ended up getting admitted to both grad schools I applied to that required a 3.8+ GPA while having a 1.97 GPA because he personally spoke with the admission board members, and somehow convinced them to givw me a chance.

We used to have coffee regularly, go to restaurants, and just philosophize whenever we had the chance.

I constantly miss you and will continue to do so Bernie. 

I remember "Bernie O" as my psychology prof when I attended HPU in the 1990s. He once met me for coffee before class, because I needed clarification with some subject matter. He didn't hesitate to get with me, because he was such a giving person. We had a casual conversation that was very pleasant and informative.

My other memory is a poem he  wrote, called, "Three Little Words." As he read us the poem one day at the end of class, we were touched by his warmth and clever word choices. It was a love sonnet, which described a letter his wife had written to him. The 3 little words he said at the end were expected to be, "I love you." However, with a twist that has stuck with me during these last 25 years, he ended the poem on the last line with, "These 3 little words: There's someone else." You could hear the moan from the students.

Thank you Bernie, for showing me how dedicated a true educator should be. Rest in Peace, my friend.

Bernie ~ RIP
I also was not aware that Bernie had passed (having returned to the islands a few years ago). He was my favorite teacher and always will be. I took many classes with Bernie at HPU in the early nineties. His style of teaching (holding 5 items in working memory at the time); his focus on bringing out the best in every student (MBTI) and his in-class quirkiness full of Aloha and humanity always stuck with me. At the end of my studies, Bernie created a private class for me that he was not yet able to teach. For a full semester, we would meet one-on-one and perhaps in that class, he taught me more than many classes combined. It ultimately determined my course of study and work. I loved Bernie's poetry that he bestowed on us unexpectedly during class (in the spirit of creating fully rounded beings). Later, in Southern California, I met Bernie once again. Over coffee, we talked story and he gifted me the album Jazz from Hawaii for which he wrote the songs. Bernie was a brilliant and kind soul who touched many of us. Mahalo dear Bernie.

I haven’t lived in Hawaii since 2000 and didn’t know Bernie had passed. He was a beautiful soul. RIP brother.

As I was trying to search for ways to reconnect with my wonderful and most memorable mentor, teacher and amazing inspiration, whom I have never met anyone like him in this world Prof. Bernie; I was saddened  to read about his death just 25 days too late...I still remember the day, that I was suppose to go take an exam for his class and I had stayed up the whole night not able to force myself into memorizing any word in the book and decided to write a poem called "Chapters of my Life" instead and dedicate it to Prof Bernie as a better way to prove to him I understood everything he taught us and that I had a better way of proving it in a non-conventional way! I went that morning having not slept the whole night as I was busy writing a 25 pages poem and slipped it with a note to my amazing mentor under his office door while he was in class giving the exam to my class mates..then, I ran back to my apartment in fear that I would fail the only class I have come to love. BUT, to my most amazing surprise, I received a call that same evening...a voice said: " Hiya hiya hiya hiay Joanna"...I said: "Oh my Gosh!!! Prof Bernie...". He said: "Yes, it's me. How are you?"...And then, I just blew up in tears...he complemented me on an excellent work but told me that as much as he was touched by my work and how unconditional it was, he would not be able to give me a full grade but instead a B. WOW!!!! I was just stupefied with joy that he accepted my work and appreciated my efforts...I never forgot this man to this passing day...This happened in 1996...And here we are 18 yrs on and I still remember his beautiful, talented, hopeful and most inspiring genius, soul and character...Bernie, you will be missed but never forgotten...I thank you with all my heart for the dedicated note on the book and also for the cd of your Jazz Album and definitely for your lifetime of inspiration...I will take your memory and pass it on as a story of how to never give up, always smile and express yourself in the best way you can...ALOHA Bernie

We will miss seeing our colleague, Bernie, at coffee shops and on Fort Street Mall. He never failed to say hello and ask how we were doing. 

With sympathy,

Sadaji Oi and Sally La Luzerne-Oi

I knew Bernie from high school and always knew him to be a gentle soul.  I'm sure he has touched many lives over the years and will be sorely missed.

I didn't have the pleasure to meet or know Bernie but knew his parents many years ago in Las Vegas. They helped myself and my friend immensely when we arrived. They treated us just like we were their own children. Truly, two beautiful and caring people. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Rest in Peace Bernie.

Bernie was a professor of mine who was one of my greatest mentors and is one of the reasons I am where I am today professionally. He was such a kind and compassionate yet no nonsense person :). He will always remain dear to my heart and I will always be greatful I had him as a professor.

Bernie is just the most fantastic of people and professor. His insights and jokes perfectly blended to show people and help people find their path or career. I was lucky enough to have been his student in 3 different courses.

He was always playful and in a good mood in our classes. He was a true inspiration to my experience as a student and as a foreigner living in the U.S. and Hawaii. My personal knowledge of him is a little limited, but my memories of him are one of the strongest from my time as a student in one of the worlds paradises. Thats an impressive feat by itself.

I still miss meeting Bernie in a cafe for lunch to discuss an assignment rather then at a formal office. Your spirit as a teacher and educator is just amazing.

My biggest condolences goes out to his family and close friends. Big aloha from Norway!

Bernie O, what a sweet friend, truly passionate about guiding people to their "gifts," always honest, a lover of musical and verbal expression, and an incredibly devoted grandfather. My friend. My mentor. An incredible and truly under-appreciated human spirit, I was so very fortunate to have had you in my life!

Until he retired in 2009, Bernie was a colleague and one of the best teachers we've ever been graced with at Hawaii Pacific Univeristy.  In my opinion, certainly and without a doubt, the most devoted.  Ten years ago, and perhaps 10 or 20 years overdue, Bernie was named the recipient of the 2004 HPU Trustees Award for Teaching Excellence, an annual award bestowed on a faculty member who best exemplifies the ideals of distinguished teaching.  A member of the small search committee that hired me in 2000 and then a highly regarded and respected member of our small psychology program, I learned much of what it means to be a devoted teacher from him.  Absolutely beloved and highly regarded by students, I am still learning lessons from him now that he is gone.  More than 40 former students posted loving comments about Bernie and his mastery in teaching on my Facebook page when I sadly announced his passing.

I ran into Bernie the day he died.  And it saddened and shamed me to learn that I squandered an opportunity to convey my love for him. I saw him standing downtown, waiting for a bus, as it turns out to go see the doctor.  I simultaneously thought to myself that he never looked worse or more frail, or better dressed and groomed than I've ever seen this always classy guy.  I get it now.  This place where HPU is was sacred to him.  Not the university, but the "place" where teaching occurs. Anywhere that "place" is, whether a classroom or in whatever cafe he made his office.  Teaching was sacred to Bernie.  You wear your "Sunday Best" to the place you find most sacred.  I think now that Bernie wanted to visit his sacred place one last time that day and I'm thrilled that I was privileged to witness this, even if I wasted my opportunity.  

I always wondered why he took his shoes off in the classroom.  I always thought it was one of Bernie's quirky "Bernie-isms."  Like his "hiya hiya hiya" greeting or his many other "Bernie-isms."  But, I get it now.  Teaching was sacred to Bernie. You take your shoes off in sacred places.  He didn't take them off when we met in classrooms for other things like faculty meetings.  Only during teaching. Teaching was sacred to Bernie.

Bernie, I love you and will miss you.  I know you'd say some witty Bernie-ism, but I want to be more like you.  Thanks for all the great teaching! 

Warmest aloha wishes and condolences to all family and friends.

OBITUARIO

Bernard Edward Ostrowski

27 noviembre, 1942 – 4 noviembre, 2014

Borthwick Mortuary

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