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A Gracious Winner

David W. Bernard loved his family and he loved golf, and he liked to combine his two passions. Every July, he played in a father-son tournament — twice in one day — so he could do 18 holes with each of his sons, Mark and David Jr. Before his daughter, Jill, was married last summer, he arranged a foursome with his two boys and his soon-to-be son-in- law. And he taught his wife of 33 years, Nancy, how to play.

"He was very patient with me," she said. "He wanted me to play golf so that when we traveled together we could do it together." (In return, he went shopping with her.) Despite his low golf handicap (just nine) and his fierce competitiveness, Mr. Bernard was a gracious winner, said Mrs. Bernard: "Nobody could ever be mad at him. He just had a very easy way about him."

Mr. Bernard, 57, was an industry specialist for the Internal Revenue Service and was based in Boston. On Sept. 11, he was on his way to a meeting at the I.R.S. offices at 7 World Trade Center when the first plane hit the towers. He was struck by falling debris and died of his injuries on Dec. 11.
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 31, 2001.


David W. Bernard, age 57, of Chelmsford, a victim of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack, died Tuesday, Dec. 11th. Employee of the Treasury Dept. of the U.S. Government. Husband of Nancy M. (Berg) Bernard. Father of David W. Bernard Jr. of Boston, Mark A. Bernard and his wife Johanna of Brookline, and Jill E. Ludmar and her husband Daniel S. of Brighton. Brother of Fran Kline and her husband Judd of Lexington, and John Bernard and his wife Donna of Pepperell. A Funeral Service will be offered on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock at St. Mary's Church, Chelmsford. Visiting hours at Blake Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD, on Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. Burial in Heart Pond Cemetery, Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the CR Paralysis Foundation, 500 Morris Ave., Springfield, NJ 07081. Blake Funeral Home, Chelmsford (978) 256-5251

Paid notice published in THE BOSTON GLOBE on December 13, 2001.