Bernard was born to Peter and Patricia Bernardo in Dorchester, MA. After the death of his father Peter in 1966, his mother remarried Manford Rideout, bringing two families together. He grew up in Dedham, MA with his eight siblings.
After graduating from Wentworth Institute of Technology, he started his career in the trades, later becoming a master plumber and talented HVAC technician.
In May of 1985, Bern met Julie in Westbrook, Maine. They quickly fell in love and married on January 4, 1986. Bern and Julie had two daughters, Nicole and Chelsea.
Bern’s talent in the trades led him to a successful career of twenty-five years working in the plumbing and HVAC departments at L.L. Bean, where he earned one of the most prestigious awards any Mainer could achieve – “Bean’s Best.”
After retiring, Bern spent his time doing the things he loved most, including spending time with his family, cooking homemade pasta and bread, biking, traveling, and reading. Despite being “retired,” he would never say no to a side job for friends and family, not only fixing what was broken, but doing so with perfection. He also brought the same level of perfection and skill to winding up his five grandchildren, always balancing the line between laughter and tears.
Bern is predeceased by his fathers, Peter Bernardo and Manford Rideout, cousin Joseph Mantos, nephew, Nicholas Cote, aunt, Elizabeth Mantos, and godfather, “uncle” John Savage.
He is survived by his wife, Julie A. (Martin) Bernardo, daughter, Nicole A. (Bernardo) Weinstein and her husband, Paul D. Weinstein, daughter, Chelsea A. (Bernardo) Deupree and her husband, Jonathan D. Deupree, five beautiful grandchildren, Benjamin S. Weinstein, Lydia J. Weinstein, Jackson D. Deupree, Lucas A. Weinstein, and Riley A. Deupree, mother, Patricia Rideout, sister, Patricia Madden and her husband Daniel, sister, Julie Flaherty and her husband Christopher, sister, Annette Hotham and her husband Charles, brother, Kevin Rideout and his wife Lisa, brother, Steven Rideout and his wife Cindy, sister, Elaine Koltz and her husband Gary, sister, Debra Cote and her husband Greg, brother, Manford Rideout.
Bern is survived by his first cousins, Harry Mantos, Phil Mantos, Paul Mantos, Beth and Scott Potter, and Chris Mantos.
He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews, including Kelly and Kevin Kirmelewicz, Katie and Sean Baril, Krissy and Paul Giffune, Sean and Katie Flaherty, Scott and Kristen Flaherty, Shannon and Kevin Finnerty, John Hotham and Hector Cisneros, Joe Hotham, Matthew Rideout, Michelle and Tim Hayes, Samantha Rideout, Jenna Koltz, Jordan Koltz, Jason Rideout and Erica True, Joshua Rideout and Travis Horner, Brittany and Michael Morrone, Christopher and Becky Cote, Meghan Dehetre, Haylee Cote and Michael Rioux, Myah Cote, Leah Cote, Lindsey Rideout, and many great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held 5-8 pm Friday, January 6 at the Jones, Rich, & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street, Portland. Words of Remembrance will be held at 7 pm.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 am Saturday, January 7 at St. Gregory Church, 24 N Raymond Road, Gray.
Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com.
