Stephen M. Bernardi passed away in Massachusetts General Hospital on November 21, 2010. The cause of death was metastic melanoma. He was 79.
He was born in Worcester MA, the son of John and Catherine O'Meara Bernardi.
A graduate of Boston Latin, he attended Harvard College, graduating in 1952. He went on to attend Harvard Law School. After graduating in 1955, he practiced law with the Cleveland firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey.
He left there in 1967 to return to Harvard Law School as Assistant Director of The Sesquicentennial Fund. with the completetion of that campaign in 1969, he was appointed Assistant Dean for Academic affairs and Secretary of the Law School, jobs that he held intil his retirement in 1992. During that time he served under Law School Deans Derek Bok, Albert Sacks, James Vorenbuerg, and Robert Clark. He also served in a variety of other posts, including the Law School Admission Committee and its Administrative Board.
Throughout his career at the law school he was admired for his sound judgement. One law school colleague noted that " I wish I had a nickel for every time I sought his counsel"
One of his happiest years was spent in 1983-84 as Acting Master of Winthrop House, The Harvard College House where he lived as an undergraduate.
His memberships included the Tavern Club of Boston, the Boston Athenaeum, and the Harvard Faculty Club.
Mr. Bernardi was an avid traveler both in the United States and throughout Europe. Many of his trips were walking trips in the company of devoted friends. He was volunteer at Hospice at Mission Hill, one of the first licensed AIDS hospices in the U.S.
A lifelong bachelor, he leaves no immediate family but instead many, many friends and admirers, beneficiaries of his sage advice and warm friendship, and above all, people who loved him.
Funeral from The Rogers Funeral Home, 380 Cambridge St., Cambridge Tuesday at 8:45 am. Funeral mass at 10:00 am in The Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, 165 Park Ave., Boston. Visiting Hours Monday 4 to 8 pm at the funeral home. Interment to follow in The Holy Hood Cemetery, 584 Heath St., Brookline, MA.
In lieu of flowers contribution may be made to the John Bernardi and Catherine O'Meara Bernardi Book Fund at the Harvard Library, 110 Widener Library, Harvard University, Cambridge Ma. 02138