By Alex Maxwell
The Herald Democrat
BONHAM, Texas — Jack Berni, who served as a Bonham firefighter for more than 35 years, died Monday at the age of 57.
“He was kind of cut from the old cloth as far as he was loyal, dedicated, and he took pride in what he did,” Bonham Fire Chief Brad Nichols said.
Mr. Berni retired from the Bonham Fire Department in 2012 after serving as a captain for 20 years. During his retirement, Mr. Berni was asked to serve as the interim chief for the Commerce Fire Department, and a few months later, he became the full time chief. He served in Commerce until his death.
First working as a volunteer firefighter in 1977, Mr. Berni worked into becoming a paid firefighter. Then he was promoted up the chain of command to become a long-serving captain.
“When he retired, there was no way we could ever replace his years of experience and leadership,” Nichols said.
Nichols, who is serving a pallbearers for Mr. Berni’s funeral, said he has known Mr. Berni for about 25 years, and he had a quiet leadership style. He said his actions spoke loudly as he always led by example. Mr. Berni was Nichols’ captain when Nichols was first hired into the Bonham Fire Department, he said.
“He was my leader and mentor from the very first day I walked into the fire station,” Nichols said.
On Mr. Berni’s days off, Nichols said he stayed busy with a side business. He said worked in construction and did vinyl siding and gutters. He lived in Ivanhoe with his wife Beverly Berni, and he was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Bonham. He has an adult son and daughter, Scott Berni and Sarah Berni Belt.
“It wasn’t about him earning a dollar, it was doing the right thing and earning the respect of his customers,” Nichols said.
Capt. Josh Cato of the Commerce Fire Department said Mr. Berni served the city well. Among his accomplishments, Cato said, Mr. Berni helped the department acquire a new fire truck. Cato is also serving as a pallbearer for Mr. Berni’s funeral.
“He was just a great and honest man,” Cato said. “He was here to better the department. … We’re missing a good guy.”
Nichols said Mr. Berni was in and out of the intensive care unit at the Texoma Medical Center in Denison for the past few weeks. Nichols said he died due to multiple system failures.
“He kind of lives on everyday because there are a lot of firefighters here and in other cites who looked to Jack as a mentor,” Nichols said. “The lessons he taught will live on for generations to come.”
The funeral for Mr. Berni will be will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Bonham. Burial will follow at the Willow Wild Cemetery.
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