A Hill School graduate, he was on the business board of The Daily Princetonian, majored in history, and belonged to Key and Seal. His father was a member of the Class of 1917.

After a year at Penn Law, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served two years “as one of the best-educated and worst-skilled aviation electricians in naval history.” Following the Navy, he married Patricia Forbes and finished law school.

His law career started with a Philadelphia insurance conglomerate. After seven years, he joined Continental American Life in Wilmington and soon became chief counsel.In 1991 he retired as vice president and general counsel.

Bern volunteered his time profusely. He developed a baseball Little League in 1968 where he coached and was commissioner for 20 years. He was president of Delaware’s Nature Society. With Pat, he was a worldwide traveler and enjoyed their New Jersey beach house in Cape May. He loved to watch his Philadelphia sports teams. In retirement he shared his experience with students at Widener University Law and “tried to revive” his golf game.

Bern was predeceased by his wife, Pat, in 2019. He is survived by three children, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.