Arthur Bernacchia

Arthur was born April 5, 1928 in Milford Connecticut, to George and Marie Bernacchia.

The family moved to Yonkers prior to 1930. Arthur attended Yonkers schools and graduated from Gorton High School. He attended Colgate University, graduating with honors in 1950.

Arthur served two years in the Army after graduating, as a logistics specialist stationed in France from 1951-1952.

After returning to Yonkers in 1953, he met the love of his life, June Breimann. The two married in 1955 and were together for almost 62 years. Together, they had five children and nine grandchildren.

In 1953, he and his brother George became involved in the bus business. The two took over the routes of their father’s company, Bernacchia Brothers Inc., and changed the name to Liberty Coaches.

For the next several decades, they expanded by purchasing over twenty other local bus companies. In 1970, the company consolidated most of the transit service in Westchester and added Ray Murphy as a partner. The company’s name was then changed to Liberty Lines Inc. Arthur, his brother George, and Ray Murphy continued to expand the business and created a nationally recognized transit system that still operates today as a private family business. Currently, the company serves 30,000,000 passengers and covers 10,000,000 miles on 53 routes.

Arthur had been active in the company as well as in the Yonkers and Westchester county business community for over 65 years.

An avid golfer, Arthur played 18 holes the day prior to his death. Arthur suffered a brain hemorrhage on Friday morning and died Friday evening at St. John’s Hospital, surrounded by his entire family.

He is survived by his wife June (Breimann) Bernacchia.

Children

Janet Wilkins (Robert) of Somers, NY

Bruce Bernacchia (Carol) of Dobbs Ferry, NY

Brian Bernacchia (Maureen) of Yonkers, NY

David Bernacchia (Lisa) of Pound Ridge, NY

Jeanmarie Kuck (Brad)of Mahopac, NY

Grandchildren

Crystal Wilkins

Rachel (Rocco) Fassacesia

Grace Wilkins

Noelle Bernacchia

Daniel Bernacchia

Marie Bernacchia

Lauren Bernacchia

Jordan Bernacchia

Matthew Bernacchia