Jim Bernhardt

James “Jimmy” Bernhardt passed away peacefully on Friday, June 21, 2019, at the age of 63. He was surrounded by his family and friends. Jimmy was born on March 26, 1956 in New York to the late Abraham and Martha Bernhardt.

He is survived by his loving wife, Catherine; three devoted sons, Jake (29 yrs.), Jesse (28 yrs.), Jared (21 yrs.) and sister, Lois. Jimmy was predeceased by his parents and infant daughter, Michaela Alexa Bernhardt.

Jimmy was a lifelong coach, mentor and teacher of young athletes. His career is filled with accomplishments on both the lacrosse and football fields as a player, mentor and coach.

He started his career as an outstanding student and star athlete at Long Beach High School and went on to finish his collegiate career playing football and lacrosse at Hofstra University. At an early age, Jimmy was guided to a career in coaching by three of his own coaches and mentors; Jim Fiore, Tom Russo and Tony Piazza. Fiore, Russo and Piazza shaped a path for Jimmy that led to his coaching career, a career that has positively impacted thousands of lives. From Fiore, Russo and Piazza Jimmy learned fundamental lessons that he carried with him throughout his life: Do things the right way and don’t take shortcuts. Jimmy’s three word teaching mantra was “Pride, Poise, Commitment.”

Jimmy’s commitment to integrity throughout his life set him apart from many in his chosen professional field. He coached at the junior high and high school levels in both New York State and Florida with star pupil Scottie Graham heading the list of numerous college scholarship recipients. Scottie went on to a professional football career and has noted that Jimmy was his “guiding light.” Jimmy coached at Hofstra, Brown, Central Florida, and Penn State Universities where he taught and mentored the likes of Bill O’Brien and Kevin Smith. O’Brien went on to a stellar collegiate playing career and started his coaching career as a graduate assistant under the tutelage of Jimmy. O’Brien hired Jimmy at Penn State University and has credited Jimmy with being “instrumental in helping to resurrect the Penn State Football program after a horrible scandal.” O’Brien went on to state that Jimmy was a “great teacher.” When O‘Brien became the head coach of the Houston Texans, he hired Jimmy as his “right hand man” and Director of Football Research to help guide and direct that NFL franchise. Two years after hiring Jimmy the franchise became a playoff contender.

Jimmy’s legacy has been shaped through his unending commitment to ethical values in athletics and his devotion to detail oriented teaching. His dry sense of humor was one of his most endearing traits and his quips are often quoted by friends and family.

Jimmy was a coach’s coach. He was tough on his players and demanded excellence from each of them matching the player’s abilities. Jimmy made no excuses for his performance as an athlete or coach, and expected the same from those he coached and mentored. He is a member of a fraternity of coaches who have dedicated their lives to teaching young athletes strong values, focused discipline and respect for the game they play. Jimmy’s work is imprinted on, and his presence will be fondly remembered by, friends, students, family and others throughout the country.

Jimmy’s passion was teaching and coaching but his life was dedicated to his wife Catherine and their three boys—Jake, Jesse and Jared. Jimmy taught, fathered and raised his sons with a thundering velvet hand. Jake (2008-13), Jesse (2009-13) and Jared (2016-present) were each scholarship lacrosse student-athletes at the University of Maryland. Under the watchful eyes and caring lessons of Jimmy, the three brothers have accomplished unprecedented athletic achievements. As Jared continues his outstanding All-American lacrosse career at Maryland, Jake and Jesse, both members of the 2018 USA Gold Medal Lacrosse Team, continue to play at the professional level and have begun their own coaching careers at the University of Vermont and the University of Maryland, respectively. The three boys credit Jimmy with guiding and leading them to their full potential. The brothers are Jimmy’s living legacy.

Services will be held at two sites. On Thursday June 27th at Baldwin- Fairchild Funeral Home, 90 Weathersfield Ave in Altamonte Springs, FL with Visitation from 5-7 p.m. and Speakers and Tribute from 7-9 p.m.

The second service will be held on Monday, July 1st at Jordan’s Funeral Home in Island Park, NY, with Visitation from 4-7 p.m. and Speakers and Tribute from 7-8 p.m.