Thomas F. Bernier

Thomas F. “Tom” Bernier. Tom was born to Bill and Mary Bernier February 18, 1950 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He passed away at the age of 61 suddenly, without suffering, doing what he loved, working in his beautiful yard.

Tom graduated from South Hadley High School where he met the love of his life, Jan. They married in 1969, but were soon separated. Tom was called to serve his country during the Vietnam war. After his tour in Vietnam, Tom and Jan were reunited. They moved to McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, Florida where he served the remainder of his time in the Air Force and started to build his family.

In 1978, after five years of working for Merita Bread, Tom chose a new career path. He was employed by New York Life and began his new life as an insurance salesman. He was a designated Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and a member and speaker at the Million Dollar Round Table and Top of the Table as recognition of his outstanding insurance sales. He often joked that after “Top of the Table” the next generation would have to be “Tippity Top of the Table”. Tom built a client base of business owners in ten states to whom he became a trusted adviser, confidant and friend.

Tom Bernier was the guy you wanted to be with on the Bay Hill golf course for a great game of golf. He may not have been the best golfer but there was so much more that he brought to the game. Nicknamed “Two Beer” by a close friend, Tom enjoyed over 25 years on the course at Bay Hill. To his delight he was able to team up over the years with many of the golf greats including his friend Arnold Palmer.

Tom and Jan traveled all over the world together and lived a happy, loving, full life surrounded by an amazing group of family and close friends. He is survived by his loving wife Jan, sons Matthew and wife Tracy, David and wife Kerri, and Adam and wife Christine and his ten precious grandchildren Justine, Alexis, Brianna, Dillon, Alyssa, Monique, Hailey, Sebastian Thomas, Maxwell, and Mia. Tom will be remembered as a loving and generous man, who will greatly be missed.

A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 South Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida 32819 on Friday, July 22, at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Tom’s honor to the Dr. P. Phillip’s YMCA Youth Scholarship Fund. 407-351-9417