Sunday, January 12, 2020
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When we were your students, we called you Mr. O'B, and that soon became simply O'B. Whe you came to our reunions, some of us called you Bernie. In all cases, we looked up to you as a mentor and a friend. You came to our Class of '61 reunions, and we were able to relive many of the 'good old days' at South.
Looking at pictures of you over the years, my mind sees you aging, but if your name is mentioned, the image I see is that of my Physical Education teacher back at South in the late 50's. With only eleven years more than mine, you were more like a big brother to us, and your guidance brought us to a better place as adults. You taught us teamwork, and above all, respect. Out of my many teachers at South, you stand out among slightly more than a handful of whom I remember as special, and who were my role models to emulate when I began my own teaching career.
Thank you, Bernie, for the lessons I learned at your hand, and know that your time and effort for us is significant in our many lives. The world has lost a special man, but is now a better place because of you!