Bernard Cerier

Born April 19, 1929 in Boston Massachusetts to Esther and Sam Cerier. Bernie attended Boston schools and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He later graduated from Northeastern College at the University of Massachusetts at the age of 65 and was the proudest man at graduation.

Bernie attended the Massachusetts School of Army Reserves and graduated with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He served over 25 years in the reserves and at his death he was a retired of Major.

In June of 1954 Bernie married Hollis Cohen of Watertown New York. They lived in Massachusetts where Bernie began his telephone career. He started off in the marketing department of the New England Telephone Company. In 1967 Bernie moved the family to Chicago when he accepted the position as Director of Communications for Michael Reese Hospitals. Bernie found his niche and decided to start his own business as a telephone system designer and consultant to universities and hospitals throughout the country. As the need for sophisticated telephone usage became popular Bernie was excited with each new system he designed and implemented. Over the years the traveling and fatigue that grew from his consulting business finally took over and Bernie took a position with GTE in Newton Massachusetts and the Ceriers moved back home to Massachusetts.

After retiring from GTE, Bernie and Hollis moved to the Seattle area to be near their daughter and her family. They considered the Northwest a great respite even with the rain. Never one to just sit around Bernie looked for a place to volunteer and the Red Cross of Everett became his home away from home. The staff and volunteers welcomed him with open arms and the time and effort he spent there was rewarding to both he and Holly.

Bernie leaves his wife Hollis and children Beth and Mike Ristig, Larry and Janet Cerier and the lights of his life ,his grandchildren Alexandra and Meghan Ristig and Brian and Emily Cerier.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to:

Evergreen Hospice

c/o Evergreen Healthcare Foundation

12040 NE 128th St.

MS #5

Kirkland, WA 98034-3013.

If you have any questions, please call the Evergreen Healthcare Foundation office - 425.899.1900.

WWW.Evergreenhospitalfoundation.org