FALMOUTH — As the sun was rising on Tuesday, Aug. 22, Bernie left this Earth to be reunited with his beloved wife, Donna.

Bernie was born in Bangor in 1930 and resided there for several years before moving to Auburn in 1937. He graduated from Edward Little High School in the Class of ’49, where he was a standout basketball and baseball player. A left-handed pitcher with talent and aspirations, he tried out for the Red Sox in 1951. However, it was his fate to enlist with the Air Force, where he served in Korea and was later based at the North Truro Air Force Station where he played baseball for the North Truro Blue Sox.

Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Auburn, where it wasn’t long before he met his future wife, Donna. They fell in love on the dance floor and they were married in 1956. They kept dancing and many would say dancing was their thing. It’s safe to say Bernie has had a broken heart since Donna passed away in 2012.

Bernie took full advantage of the GI Bill and attended Gorham State Teachers College, where he resumed playing baseball for four years. He graduated in 1959.

He and Donna raised two daughters at their home in Falmouth. He had a long career: teaching at the Boys Training Center, running operations at Goodwill and at Casco Paper Box. But he was in his glory as the athletic director at the Job Corps at Poland Spring. It was at Job Corps that he combined his love of teaching and his passion for athletics.

An avid golfer, Bernie belonged to Poland Spring Golf Course and later Purpoodock Country Club, where he enjoyed golfing and dancing with Donna.

Bernie is survived by daughter, Stacie Lucas Johnston and her husband, Bryce, of Yarmouth; daughter, Shellie Lucas Howe and her partner, Jeff Hughes, of Poland; his grandchildren, Scott and his wife, Erin, of Nashville, TN, Kathryn and her husband, Zach, of Brunswick, Kelsie and her husband, Rob, of Cumberland, Wendi and her husband, Chris, of Mobile, AL, Jason and his wife, Danielle, of New Limerick, Jared and his partner, Christian, of Greene, and Jamison of Mechanic Falls. Bernie also leaves five great-grandchildren, (with another on the way) and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Clifford and Susie; his siblings, Virginia, Geneva, and Harold; as well as his son-in-law, Brent Howe.

Many thanks to the awesome caregivers from Home Care Advantage and the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough for their kindness and support of Bernie and his family.

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