Bernard "Bernie" Knowlton Wolfard

Born on August 5, 1950, Bernie lived a life defined not by limitation, but by curiosity, creativity, resilience, and adventure. To those who knew him well, he was a builder, a tinkerer, an inventor, a conversationalist, and a deeply thoughtful man whose presence made the world feel more interesting, engaging, and hopeful.

At just 26 years old, Bernie survived a catastrophic hang gliding accident in Ecuador after his glider was caught in a violent updraft and collapsed, sending him falling nearly three-thousand feet. The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Many would have allowed such an event to define the rest of their lives. Bernie never did. Bernie sometimes spoke openly about his accident, and when he did, his stories were colored by a sense of perspective and pride in the adventurous life he had lived, never by bitterness.

He approached life with determination, ingenuity, and optimism. He developed hand-control driving systems that allowed him to continue traveling independently. A strong skier before his accident, he engineered a seated skiing system so he could continue downhill skiing. He was also a gifted craftsman and boating enthusiast who founded a company designing wooden boat kits for fellow enthusiasts. He remained endlessly curious, inventive, and engaged with the world around him, always looking for ways to create, improve, and explore.

Bernie’s professional life reflected the same spirit of purpose and compassion that defined his personal life. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon in 1973, he worked in a variety of entrepreneurial and vocational roles. After recovering from his accident, he worked with the Epilepsy Foundation of America, where he helped develop vocational placement programs for people living with epilepsy and other disabilities. Even in the wake of his own challenges, Bernie committed himself to helping others build meaningful and independent lives.

During the years he devoted to his wooden boat business, family members fondly remember annual trips to the Wooden Boat Festival at Seattle’s Lake Union around the Fourth of July, where he would proudly launch his newest designs, and row family members around the lake. Those outings became treasured memories for all involved.

Bernie also had a unique ability to connect with children. One nephew fondly recalls telling his first-grade classmates that his uncle had survived a 2,000-foot fall after a hang gliding accident and had used a wheelchair thereafter. When his classmates refused to believe such a thing was possible, Bernie happily came to the classroom himself, spending an hour sharing his story and answering every question with patience and warmth. It became a lifelong memory and an early lesson in courage, humility, and grace for his nephew. At family gatherings, Bernie could often be found at the “kids table,” engaged in conversation, asking thoughtful questions, and making young people feel important.

Bernie was a constant source of inspiration. He demonstrated what “mind over matter” truly means, not through denial of hardship or refusal to accept reality, but through sheer conviction and deep confidence that his hardship would not define his identity. Though he never regained the ability to walk, he never stopped living fully. He remained intellectually curious, creative, and always open to thoughtful conversation.

The world was undeniably better with Bernie in it. His family takes comfort in knowing that his life touched countless others through his example, his kindness, and the quiet strength with which he carried himself every day.

Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Marcy Wolfard. He is survived by his sisters, Paula Ramos and Wendy Wolfard, and his brother, Catlin Wolfard. Though he had no children of his own, he leaves behind many nieces and nephews who were inspired by him and will remember him fondly for the rest of their lives.

Bernie will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.