U.S. Air Force pilot during Vietnam; commercial pilot for over 30 years
Published in the September 13, 2018 edition
BOSTON — Leon Victor Bernier, 82, of Waterstone at the Circle in Boston and formerly of North Reading, died at his home on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.
Lee was born in Northampton on March 29,1936 and received his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
Upon graduation, Lee served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1966 as a pilot of the KC-135 aircraft. He was a distinguished veteran of the Vietnam War and earned the rank of Captain.
After leaving the military, Lee and his wife Anne settled in North Reading to raise their three children and remained in town as residents for over 50 years. Lee enjoyed his career and passion as an airline pilot for American Airlines for over 30 years.
Lee will be remembered by his loving wife Anne (Leyden) Bernier of 56 years; his son, Kevin Bernier; his daughters, Nanette Villandry and Cathleen Bernier-Garzon; his six beautiful grandchildren, Jessica and Anthony Fino, Nicole and Cali Bernier, and Nicholas and Gabriel Bernier-Garzon, his great-grandson, Julian Donald, his parents Laurant Victor Bernier and Miriam (McNerny) Bernier and his brothers, Stephen Bernier and the late Kenneth Bernier.
A special thank you is extended to Dr. Komer and Dr. Einstein for all their love and care that they extended to Lee.
We will always carry your memory in our hearts.
A private service will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home on Thursday, September 13; per the family’s request, there will be no calling hours.
A private interment will be held in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or to the American Bladder Cancer Society. To leave an online condolence, please visit: www.croswellfuneralhome.com.
