Bernard "Bernie" Rene Lacourciere

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Bernard “Bernie” Lacourciere on October 26, 2026, at age 62, from injuries sustained in a cycling accident in Atlanta.

He leaves behind his children, Fin (mother, Janet Findlay) and Annie (mother, Joanne Lacourciere), as well as his mother, Dr. Sheila Lacourciere and his siblings, Suzanne, Carmen (Brad), Rene and Andre (Cheryl), as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Dr. Leopold Lacourciere (1980).

Born and raised in Canada, Bernie lived his life with remarkable energy, curiosity and intensity. He was a man of strong convictions who loved conversation, laughter, debate and competition. He loved to tease and get people going, never one to shy away from defending his opinion with tenacity. Behind the debates, banter and competitive spirit was a kind and deeply loyal friend.

Athletics were woven throughout Bernie’s entire life. One of his greatest passions was skiing. In his hometown of Sudbury, Ontario, he is lovingly remembered for having dominated Roller Country Disco, a foundation on which his ski career was built. As a young man, he competed in varsity cross-country and took part in the Sudbury Quadrathlon – The Beaton Classic. Bernie was an OUA Nordic Ski Champion, a five-time cross-country ski champion, and a member of the Military ski team, an experience that took him around the world. His endurance and determination would later carry him across the finish line at Ironman Canada.

After moving to Atlanta in 2015, cycling became the focus of his active life. Bernie embraced it with the same passion and focus he brought to everything he loved. Set to participate in the World Cup in Cycling 2027, a typical morning for Bernie began at 4:00 a.m. before joining his cycling team at sunrise for a 50-to-60-mile ride.

For most people, retirement means slowing down. For Bernie, it simply meant more time to do what he loved. After a 29-year career as a pharmaceutical representative with GSK, he retired in February 2026, and his daily rides grew to an extraordinary 80 to 100 miles per day.

Bernie’s intellectual curiosity matched his physical energy. He studied at Laurentian University and the University of Ottawa and remained a voracious reader throughout his life. He was particularly drawn to non-fiction and books exploring health and philosophy. He enjoyed ideas that could be examined, challenged and discussed. For all his intensity and discipline, Bernie had a softer side. He loved to cook and bake, possessed an undeniable sweet tooth and had a particularly deep affection for his beloved grand-dog, Cali.

In many ways, it was the contrasts that made Bernie so memorable: disciplined yet playful, competitive yet kind, argumentative yet deeply loyal, serious about his convictions but always ready to laugh. He approached the things that mattered to him wholeheartedly.

The measure of Bernie’s life cannot be wholly encapsulated in championships won, miles ridden, books read, or years worked. It is also found in the people whose lives he touched along the way. Bernie had a way of engaging with people fully. Sometimes that meant making them laugh or challenging them or engaging in some lighthearted teasing. Remarkably, what often began as a disagreement became an enduring friendship.

Bernie lived his life in motion, with passion, curiosity, determination and conviction. He competed hard, trained hard, thought deeply, laughed freely and held firmly to the things he believed. Whether he was on skis or two wheels, standing in the kitchen, sharing a meal, or in the middle of a spirited conversation, Bernie brought his whole self to it.

For those fortunate enough to have truly known him, there will be an unmistakable absence where his voice, his laughter, his opinions and his friendship used to be. Undoubtedly, someone, somewhere is still finishing an argument with him.

A celebration of life in the form of a Ride of Silence in Bernie’s honor will begin at Don White Park in Roswell, Georgia at 8:30 am on October 31st. We ask that participants arrive at 8:15 and ride their bikes to the event rather than drive.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Bernie to donate to a nonprofit junior cycling team founded by his close friend, Andrew Knight. Bernie was a passionate supporter of young athletes and the next generation of cyclists.