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95-year-old man is self-taught organist
By LINDA M. LINONIS
COLUMBIANA
Ernie Bernard
Video
95-year- old Ernie Bernard plays the organ often for residents of Whispering Pines Village in Columbiana where he lives.
Ernest “Ernie” Bernard simply “loves the music.”
At 95, the self-taught organist shares his enthusiasm for organ music with fellow residents after lunch at Whispering Pines Village on Wednesdays.
Residents gather in the solarium, where Bernard’s Hammond Rhythm II is located. Bernard sits on the organ bench, covered with a pink, lavender and white afghan that has mother made.
He also wears a trademark knitted cap; some were made by his mother and others by a sister. “I had a lot of hair at one time,” Bernard recalled of his younger days. “Now I’m bald, so I wear the hat over no more hair.”
Bernard said he originally bought the organ in 1972 for his son, Richard, who expressed an interest in learning but then didn’t pursue it. But the elder Bernard did. “I used the Porter System to teach myself,” Bernard said. “I studied it.”
Once he learned how to play, one of the songs he played daily was “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” for his wife, Dorothy. They lived in Florida about 10 years, and he played regularly at the Assembly of God Church in Bradenton. Through a correspondence course, he became an ordained minister in Assembly of God.
The couple left Florida after she fell and was injured. They returned to the Valley to be near his son and grandson, Doug, and other family including a great-grandson, Travis. Bernard said his wife never really recovered from the fall. At first, they both lived at Whispering Pines, then she was moved to Parkside nursing home, across the street from Whispering Pines. She died in November 2014; they had been married 74 years. Bernard has lived at Whispering Pines about five years.
Bernard was understandably sad and lonely. Debbie Leggett, activities director, suggested to Bernard that he allow the organ to be moved from his room to the solarium, where he might play for residents. Now his once-a-week, hourlong concerts are a regular activity. He often can be found practicing.
On a recent Wednesday, about 15 Whispering Pines residents gathered in the solarium. Bernard always plays what he calls his theme song, “How Great Thou Art,” along with other selections including “In the Garden,” “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” “He Touched Me,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Jesus is the Sweetest Name” and “You Are My Sunshine.” Caregiver Kelley Friend, a junior nursing student at Kent State University, looked up the words to songs on her phone and sang along, blending old-time favorites with new technology.
“I love it when they [the other residents] like the music,” Bernard said. “I think music helps you forget your problems.”
“When you hear music, you can’t help but feel happy and uplifted,” he said. “They tell me they like listening to me play.”
Sometimes residents sing along.
Bernard said he recently got a new book of music, “Country and Western Songbook.” Already he has a favorite, “When It’s Springtime in the Rockies.”
The senior musician said he believes playing the organ and learning new songs “helps keep me alert and keeps me going.”
Bernard truly shows the golden side of getting older. In addition to his music, and teaching himself new selections, Bernard also tends raised gardening beds, where he is growing tomatoes, peppers and lettuce.
Bernard, who was born in Youngstown, lived in the city and North Lima. He is a 1938 graduate of East High School. Bernard served in the Air Force from 1943-45 and was trained as a B-25 pilot. He is among 19 veterans at Whispering Pines: 18 are World War II veterans, and one served in the Korean War. Bernard said he never saw any action as a pilot; his group’s trek overseas was canceled.
Bernard said he got a job with DeBartolo Corp. after WWII and learned the bricklaying trade. He built his own house with 24,000 bricks. Eventually, he started his own company, E. Bernard Construction in Youngstown. As a general contractor, he built some 20 churches in Ohio including First Presbyterian Church in Hubbard. At Idora Park, his company enlarged the dance hall.
The memory of his contracting days is with him in the form of a wooden cane he crafted for himself, fashioned in the shape of a saw. It has part of the verse from Proverbs 3:5 inscribed on it: “Trust in the Lord.”