George Bernstein's Obituary
George Bernstein was born June 16th 1923 in New York City, the only child of Murray and Tillie Bernstein. A child of the depression, he was part of the “Greatest Generation” and as such, instead of taking an offer to tour South America as a violinist in the Andre Costelanitz Orchestra, he talked his parents into letting him join the U.S. Navy. It was shortly after he joined the Navy that Pearl Harbor was bombed, and as fate would have it, George found himself pulling Jimmy Doolittle’s plane into position for the bombing of Tokyo. After the battle of Tokyo, he would become a member of the famed Torpedo Squadron Eight as one of its ground crew stationed on the U.S.S. Hornet. He fought in the Battle of Midway, which was the turning point in the Pacific Theater and often recounted the lonely feelings he had as he watched other crew mates return from their missions that fateful day, waiting for his companions-in-arms and finally realizing that none of them would return. He often said that was the day a 17 year old boy became a man. It was during the war that George met the love of his life, his wife Marguerite. The tale goes that he tried to get her to dance with him and her retort was “Shove off, Sailor!”. He eventually decided to leave with his buddies. But Kismet was waiting in the wings and as George took off on his way, he realized that he had left his “P” coat behind. As he went back for it, he thought to himself, “Why not?” and he gave it one more try. The rest was history as he spent the next 64 years of his life with Marguerite, had 2 daughters, Phyllis and Deborah,, 3 grandchildren, Jerome, Joshua and Joseph, and 2 great-grandchildren, Cassandra and Amanda. His time in the Navy lead him to a career as a meteorologist. After the war he separated from the Navy for a few years and he and his wife Marguerite bundled up for the adventure of their lives as employees of the National Weather Bureau in the Territory of Alaska. They took up residence on St. Lawrence Island, part of the Aleutian Island chain and could literally “See Russia” from their front door – as Siberia was a mere 30 miles away. They braved harsh weather, but made everlasting friends with the natives of St.Lawrence. They moved around the Territory and landed in Yakutat, a Native American village where George’s first daughter Phyllis was born. After his adventure in Alaska, George tried a few ventures, but found himself drawn back to his career in the Navy, where he became a “Mustang”. Mustangs start out life in the Navy as Seaman Recruits and work their way up to Chief Petty Officer, and eventually to a commission in the United States Navy as a Naval Officer. As an Officer, he continued his career as a meteorologist and one day he came home and asked his wife to join him on another adventure – this time in the Territory of Hawaii. After 6 months living in a Quonset Hut amid Banyan trees and palm trees at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, he settled down with his family in Pearl Harbor. After a few years he had a new adventure to offer – this time on the very island where he had fought several years before, Midway Island. There his second daughter Deborah was born. Midway had figured large in George’s life, and in his family’s life. After returning for another tour on the Island of Oahu, he was transferred to San Diego, where he finished the remainder of his career, moving from a stint at Miramar to one on North Island. George was a man who had to remain busy with a need to contribute to the community he lived in. He wrote the meteorological reports that contributed to the preparation and building of what was then called Jack Murphy Stadium (Now Qualcomm Stadium), tried his hand at working for Prudential, spent his spare time going back to school for a couple of AA degrees at Mesa College, graduating with a 4.0, dabbled in wood working, and won many awards as a ToastMaster, but his time studying at Naval Justice School lead him to his second love and career with the San Diego Superior Court as a Judge’s Clerk. After many years in the courtroom, he wistfully accepted a promotion as Assistant Division Chief of the Superior Court Clerks. While always excelling at whatever he attempted, the courtroom would always be his first love, working for Judge Levinson and Judge Orfield among others. After retiring from the court in 1988, he relished the time he had traveling and attending the theatre among other pursuits with Marguerite, his wife of 64 years, before her passing in 2009. He lived out his remaining years quietly. He still attended the theater, spent time with his beloved WOW group – a grievance group who became his best friends, attended Tuesday nights at the VFW with his grandsons and granddaughter, and actively kept in touch with other veterans of Torpedo Squadron Eight and the Battle of Midway. He was interviewed by the History Channel and was quoted in a book about the battle. His favorite time of the year was in June, when survivors of the Battle Of Midway would gather to commemorate that pivotal turning point in World War II on the landing deck of the U.S.S. Midway. Every year Admirals of the fleet and midshipmen alike would come to acknowledge the living history and bravery of the men who fought in that battle. In June of 2011 George traveled back to Midway Island to commemorate the battle with veterans of both the United States Navy and the Japanese Navy. He sat side by side with the very pilot that shot down many of his crew mates in the battle. He was interviewed by one of the main newspapers in Japan. It was a cathartic and moving experience for a man who was breaking bread with the very people he had fought against 69 years prior. George’s last brave act was on June 1st, 2013 at the Commemoration of the Battle of Midway, held on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Midway in San Diego. His family bundled him up in a wheel chair knowing this was one of his last days, but also knowing how important this event was to him. Midshipmen met him and wheeled him up the gangplank and up to the flight deck for what would be his last group picture with his comarades in arms. After a pleasant evening of eating and ‘kibbutzing” as he called it, everyone was called to take their seats to listen to the Admiral and aknowledge the brave men who were in attendance. The moderator emphasized that anyone in a wheelchair who could not stand should stay seated and the camera would find them. When it came time to recognize George, his daughter Deborah encouraged him to stay seated, but he would not hear of it. He struggled to his feet and stood there shaking, using every bit of strength he had to maintain an upright position and with a look of fierce determination on his face, the entire audience gave him a standing ovation. George was in his glory. His last goal was to make it to his birthday two weeks later. Few thought he would make it, but they should have known. With his family around him, he struggled to communicate – but we knew what he was saying as we showed him the balloons and the cake with the big 9-0 on top. “I made it! and I love you all – now – goodbye – it is time for this sailor to shove off!”
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