Eugene " Gene" F. Bernardo

Eugene “Gene” Bernardo, loving and beloved husband, father, and grandfather went to his eternal rest on December 18, 2023 at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded in love by wife Bev, son Michael, and other close family members.  Gene was born in Chicago Heights on April 30, 1944, and attended Bloom High School, Class of 1962.  Following high school, he served in the USAR Ord Corps.  He began his career by building on comprehensive marketing training at Pitney Bowes to become in second position for national sales in one of the company’s divisions.  Later at Field Newspaper Syndication, he negotiated writing contracts for such columnists as Ann Landers, Erma Bombeck, and Mike Royko, as well as those for other writers and cartoonists, and presented new writers and cartoonists to publishers and editors throughout the United States. Gene used his successful sales background and later, experience in the kitchen design industry, to start his own company, Bernardo Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., in 1983. Gene’s love of music and show business stems from his numerous appearances on the ‘50’s TV hit, “Record Hop”.  With help from the National Music Foundation which was chaired by Dick Clark, Gene organized dances in the 1990s with headliners like Tommy Sands and Joey Dee and the Starliters, donating profits to the Foundation.  Gene was known for his love of family and animals, leadership ability, and sense of humor.  He enjoyed traveling to South America and after marrying wife Bev, exploring Italy and many of the States in the U.S.  Restoring his childhood home, attending classic car shows, dancing, singing, and hanging out with his cat, Bamboo, were among his many interests and pursuits. Gene was the adored son of Jim and Anne Bernardo who preceded him in death, along with his beloved aunts and uncles, brother-in-law Jack Greiner and sister-in-law Betty Berni.  He will especially be missed by his loving wife Bev, his son Michael (Lana) Fionda, grandchildren Alexa Fionda and Madison Fionda, sisters-in-law Marge (Jack dec.) Greiner, Betty Berni (dec.) and her fiancé Jack Ballentine, Winnie Stortzum (Jay), Cynthia Mark (Steve), Val Lagomarcino (Paul) and many nieces and nephews.  Although he was an only child, he will be missed by his many cousins. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or ASPCA.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Funeral Thursday 9:00 a.m. from Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home 11028 Southwest Hwy. Palos Hills, IL 60465. to St. Alexander Church, mass 10:00 a.m. Interment Assumption Mausoleum  19500 Cottage Grove, Glenwood, IL.