Bernard Donat Bergeron

COLRAIN, MA – Bernard D. Bergeron, 85, of Green River Lane died Saturday 3/19/2022 at his Florida residence in Hobe Sound Florida. He was born in Greenfield, MA on July 8th, 1936, to the parents of Joseph Omer “Red” Bergeron and Irene (Boucher) Bergeron. Bernie, as he was known to his family and friends, served his country with distinction and honor for 38.5 years as a proud member of the Air Force and Civil Service. Towards the end of his career, he became a civil servant and had the distinct honor of being named the 379th SAC – Strategic Air Command civil servant of the year in 1982.

Bernie was very active in the various communities in which he lived and the church and other organizations that he was a member of throughout his life. He was active in the catholic church and was a lector and communion server and a member of the Knights of Columbus and a past Grand Knight from 1970 to 1972 for the Oscoda Knights of Columbus. He was an avid golfer and taught his two sons how to play the game of golf the right way and many other life lessons on the hallowed grounds of Lake Wood Shores Golf and Country Club. He always said that you can tell the character of a person by the way they play golf and how they kept score. Besides the 19th hole at the golf course, some of his favorite watering holes with family and friends were Tony Decker’s, home of the original “Mess Burger” and the Edelweiss Tavern in Oscoda, MI where every night after work he would meet with close friends to have an adult beverage and play Euchre. Bernie enjoyed the outdoors and spent many hours on the AuSable river fishing for Steelhead and hunting in the woods on the East shores of Michigan for White Tail deer to help the DNR manage the wildlife population and some liberties might have been taken over the years, but nothing that anyone can prove.

His winter home was Sea Breeze Manor in Hobe Sound, FL where he was an active member of that community. Some of his more notable accomplishments were that he up’ d the ante so to speak of the weekly poker game, he served on the parks board as Treasurer where he increased the parks monetary assets and in combination with other board members expedited paying off the park’s debt and left it a better place than it was before.

To Bernie there were many holidays that had special significance to him, but none more than the 4th of July celebration on the river. The festivities and shenanigans that he orchestrated on the Green River are legendary, but none more than the singing of Alouette at the McDonald camp where eventually he got to bare his ass to the crowds!

Bernie leaves two sons, Greg David Bergeron of Colrain, MA and Gary Donát Bergeron of Norton Shores, MI; two grandchildren, Kollin Donát Bergeron of Norton Shores, MI and JorDonna J’nae Bergeron of Norton Shores, MI; a sister Rita (Bergeron) Belanger and her husband Arthur Belanger of Greenfield, MA; and many nieces and nephews. His life was a colorful one and he has touched so many with his boyish charm, charisma, and adventurous nature, he will be missed dearly!

Funeral services and burial will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Aycock Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www.youngandprill.com.