Obituary for Bernard C. "Bernie" Desautels
Bernard “Bernie” Charles Desautels, 80 of Adams, MA, passed away January 21, 2023 after a short stay at North Adams Commons. Born in Pittsfield, MA on April 1, 1942, at St. Luke’s Hospital to Charles and Eugenie Laframboise Desautels, he was a 1960 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Pittsfield. At 18 he joined the Navy and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Bay of Pigs. He returned home, married, and started a family. Bernard worked and attended Berkshire Community College Electric Technology program and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education cum Laude.
Bernard was employed at General Electric, Martin Marietta and General Dynamics for 20+ years. Before retiring he was a field representative for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle during the Gulf War. After retiring her pursued his passion in fencing. First as a fencing coach at Berkshire Community College for the fencing club and then opening his own professional Salle, Berkshire Buccaneers in Dalton, where he taught fencing for over a decade.
He was a man of many, many interests; from stamp collecting to mining, fencing to camping, Vikings to Star Wars, skiing to archery, stained glass to woodworking, he lived his life fully until his health committed mutiny. Even though he was in ill health he was brave and lived the way he wanted, stubbornly and lovingly living for important family events – a granddaughter’s wedding, Thanksgiving, Christmas and two sisters’ birthdays – before passing.
Mr. Desautels is survived by his children, Marie K. Desautels of Cushing, ME, Michelle C. Desautels of Adams, MA, and Brian C. “Dez” Desautels of Pittsfield. Five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, two nephews and one niece; two sisters, Therese M. Breton of Ohio, and Anne Marie Palmer of Florida. He was predeceased by his sister Sylvia J. Desautels in 2014.
Funeral Notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held, Friday, January 27, 2023 at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Church. Calling hours will be held, Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m. at DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield. A private burial service will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in the summer.
Bernard was employed at General Electric, Martin Marietta and General Dynamics for 20+ years. Before retiring he was a field representative for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle during the Gulf War. After retiring her pursued his passion in fencing. First as a fencing coach at Berkshire Community College for the fencing club and then opening his own professional Salle, Berkshire Buccaneers in Dalton, where he taught fencing for over a decade.
He was a man of many, many interests; from stamp collecting to mining, fencing to camping, Vikings to Star Wars, skiing to archery, stained glass to woodworking, he lived his life fully until his health committed mutiny. Even though he was in ill health he was brave and lived the way he wanted, stubbornly and lovingly living for important family events – a granddaughter’s wedding, Thanksgiving, Christmas and two sisters’ birthdays – before passing.
Mr. Desautels is survived by his children, Marie K. Desautels of Cushing, ME, Michelle C. Desautels of Adams, MA, and Brian C. “Dez” Desautels of Pittsfield. Five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, two nephews and one niece; two sisters, Therese M. Breton of Ohio, and Anne Marie Palmer of Florida. He was predeceased by his sister Sylvia J. Desautels in 2014.
Funeral Notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held, Friday, January 27, 2023 at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Church. Calling hours will be held, Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 4 to 7 p.m. at DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford St, Pittsfield. A private burial service will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in the summer.