Bernard Jude Delia

His legacy is marked by the profound impact on the lives he touched through his many advocacy efforts on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, and the love and laughter he shared with his family and his many friends. He was very bright and very kind and always late!

Since he was a teenager growing up on Long Island, Bernie had been interested in history and politics. He majored in history and political science at what was then Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland and graduated with a law degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio in 1979. After clerking for a territorial judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands for nearly two years he moved to the DC area where he had always wanted to live. Bernie was admitted to the Bar in three states and Washington, DC. and honed his legal writing and editing skills at the Bureau of National Affairs as a legal editor.

He and his partner Doug Sheorn volunteered with the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign and during the administration transition, Bernie was Deputy Director in the Office of Presidential Personnel for six months where Doug subsequently worked for a number of years.

Bernie then moved to the U.S. Department of Justice where he had a distinguished legal career serving as one of its first openly gay appointees. He was Senior Counsel to the Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and spent the last 18 years of his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.

When he came out in 1985, he joined Dignity Washington, a faith community for LGBTQ Catholics. He became involved with the community by first chairing the activities committee, then being elected to the board, and then serving for three years as president in the early 90s -- all during a period of great growth in members. Since then, he continued participating in chapter activities and advising leadership.

Bernie brought his legal and managerial skills as well as his passion and commitment to his advocacy work on behalf of his community when he joined Whitman-Walker’s Capital Pride Planning Committee in 2006. He was a founding member of the Capital Pride Alliance in 2008 where he served six years as its president. At the time of his death, he was co-chair of WorldPride 2025, and had worked tirelessly to help bring this global event to the District.

Since Bernie’s death, there have been numerous messages of sympathy and support in his memory. Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed her condolences in a statement saying, “ We are heartbroken at the news of Bernie Delia’s passing. Bernie leaves behind an incredible legacy in our city and country — through his life and advocacy, he helped pave a path for LGBTQIA+ residents in our city and within the federal government to live and work openly and proudly. He helped transform Capital Pride into one of the largest and most inclusive Pride celebrations in the nation — a true reflection and representation of our people and values. That is the DC that Bernie helped build and that he leaves behind.”

He loved opera and the theater, and in his teens and 20s enjoyed acting as well. Bernie was also an avid runner and a dog lover. By happy circumstance he acquired his dog Lani when friends moved out of the country, and from then on just about anywhere Bernie went, Lani went too. Congregants at Dignity Washington used to look forward to seeing her at Sunday evening services. And the independent and good-natured Lani even got along with a couple of her cat cousins.

Bernie was predeceased by his parents Bernard and Anne Delia, his partner of nearly 20 years Doug Sheorn, and the dog love of his life, Lani. He is survived by sisters Madelaine Fletcher (Robert) and Nancy Delia Headen (Michael), nephew Adrian Schaller (Amy), and their children Adam and Austin, niece Deirdre Schaller Greene and a large group of friends.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28. at Dignity Washington - Saint Margaret's Episcopal Church, 1830 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington DC. The Funeral Mass will begin at 1:30 PM, and the Celebration of Life will follow at 2:30 pm.

Please click on link to RSVP: https://secure.givelively.org/event/capital-pride-alliance-incorporated/the-bernie-delia-pride-legacy-fund/honoring-and-celebrating-our-beloved-bernie-delia

Please consider a donation to the Capital Pride Alliance, noting that it is being made in honor of Bernie Delia.