Bernie grew up in Detroit and surrounding suburbs. He currently lives in the suburb of Troy, Michigan with his wife of 47 years, Harriet, who has been his rock through good and bad times. Bernie has two grown children, and two grandchildren. Bernie graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit and worked at a large defense contractor, General Dynamics Land Systems, for 34 years as an Engineering Records Specialist.
Like a lot of people who stutter, Bernie had speech therapy from elementary school through high school, without much success. In the summers of 1965 and 1966, Bernie attended a speech camp, Shady Trails, where he learned the techniques to get “fluent”. His great friend and mentor, Russ Hicks, attended that camp a few years earlier.
In 1994, Bernie attended his first support group meeting. He then became a Co-Chapter Leader for 10 years, then a NSA Regional Coordinator for 10 years. Bernie grew as a person and leader through those years. “It’s been an amazing journey,” he says, and adds that attending his first NSA conference in San Diego changed his whole outlook on his stuttering.
In 2018, Bernie became a member of the NSA Hall Of Fame. A NSA scholarship fund has been established in his name and he considers that will be his NSA legacy. Bernie has been told he has touched many lives, and he is overwhelmed with the love and support from our community.
Bernie is now battling leukemia for the second time, and while he is not a part of the Dallas chapter, he knows a lot of people here and all over the world. This is our way of making sure everybody knows one of the pioneers of our organization and our way to wish him the best. We love you Bernie!!!
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