Obituary for Bernard Washington
Bernard Washington (84) passed away peacefully, surrounded by family , at Morristown Memorial Medical Center on July 6, 2022. Bernie was predeceased by his loving parents Nellie (nee Duffy) and John Washington and by his brothers Jack, Tom, Rich, Eddie, Leo and Joseph and his sisters Pat McGarry, Margaret Meier, and Eileen Washington. Bernie is survived by his brothers Gene, Jim, Mike, Frank and Larry and his sisters Ellen Sullivan, Mary Matthews, Betty Lahey and Kathy Blaha. Bernie is also survived by a multitude of adoring nephews and nieces.
Bernie joined the Navy at the age of 18 and served for 2 years aboard the USS Antietam and completed his tour aboard the USS Intrepid. Bernie left the service with the rank of Petty Officer First Class. Shortly after returning home from the service in 1958, Bernie joined the Newark Fire Department, where he proudly served his community for 25 years. Bernie loved being a firefighter and was well loved by his colleagues. After retirement, Bernie remained an active member of the Retired Police & Firemen’s Association. Bernie served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Newark Firemen’s Federal Credit Union in the early 1980s and later as a Board Member only resigning in 1986 when his sister Betty was employed by the Credit Union.
Bernie was a well-known and beloved character throughout the Vailsburg Section of Newark, serving as a bartender for many years at the Bottom of the Barrel on Sanford Avenue and later at Cryan’s Beef & Ale in South Orange. Bernie was proud of his Irish heritage and belonged to a number of organizations such as the Cryan Association, Giblin Association, Vailsburg Irish American Assoc. and Ironbound Irish Assoc. and he loved to proudly march in the Newark St. Patrick’s Day parade wearing his Fireman’s uniform.
Bernie was a long standing, proud member of the Elks, serving as the Exalted Ruler of Newark’s Council # 21 in 1998/99 and later transferring his membership to the West Orange Council #1590. Bernie loved attending the Elk’s annual convention and participating in the parade in Wildwood.
Bernie has lived for the last twelve years with his nephew and #1 “pal” Dennis McGarry in Caldwell and West Orange before moving into the New Jersey Firemen’s Home in Boonton this past December.
As anyone who knew Bernie will attest, he was a character unlike any other and we his family will miss him greatly. We will bid him farewell and invite his many friends to join us at the Mastapeter Funeral Home located at 400 Faitoute Avenue in Roselle Park NJ for a viewing from 3 till 7 PM on Tuesday July 12, 2022. A funeral Service will at the Funeral Home at 10 AM on Wednesday July 13, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, we know that Bernie would prefer his friends make a contribution to either The New Jersey Firemen’s Home in Boonton or the Alpine Learning Group in Paramus, NJ.
Bernie joined the Navy at the age of 18 and served for 2 years aboard the USS Antietam and completed his tour aboard the USS Intrepid. Bernie left the service with the rank of Petty Officer First Class. Shortly after returning home from the service in 1958, Bernie joined the Newark Fire Department, where he proudly served his community for 25 years. Bernie loved being a firefighter and was well loved by his colleagues. After retirement, Bernie remained an active member of the Retired Police & Firemen’s Association. Bernie served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Newark Firemen’s Federal Credit Union in the early 1980s and later as a Board Member only resigning in 1986 when his sister Betty was employed by the Credit Union.
Bernie was a well-known and beloved character throughout the Vailsburg Section of Newark, serving as a bartender for many years at the Bottom of the Barrel on Sanford Avenue and later at Cryan’s Beef & Ale in South Orange. Bernie was proud of his Irish heritage and belonged to a number of organizations such as the Cryan Association, Giblin Association, Vailsburg Irish American Assoc. and Ironbound Irish Assoc. and he loved to proudly march in the Newark St. Patrick’s Day parade wearing his Fireman’s uniform.
Bernie was a long standing, proud member of the Elks, serving as the Exalted Ruler of Newark’s Council # 21 in 1998/99 and later transferring his membership to the West Orange Council #1590. Bernie loved attending the Elk’s annual convention and participating in the parade in Wildwood.
Bernie has lived for the last twelve years with his nephew and #1 “pal” Dennis McGarry in Caldwell and West Orange before moving into the New Jersey Firemen’s Home in Boonton this past December.
As anyone who knew Bernie will attest, he was a character unlike any other and we his family will miss him greatly. We will bid him farewell and invite his many friends to join us at the Mastapeter Funeral Home located at 400 Faitoute Avenue in Roselle Park NJ for a viewing from 3 till 7 PM on Tuesday July 12, 2022. A funeral Service will at the Funeral Home at 10 AM on Wednesday July 13, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, we know that Bernie would prefer his friends make a contribution to either The New Jersey Firemen’s Home in Boonton or the Alpine Learning Group in Paramus, NJ.