1949 – 2013

PORTLAND — Gregory J. Bernard, 63, of Brunswick, passed away on Thursday, July 25, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, after a brief illness.

He was born in Rumford on Sept. 24, 1949, the son of Eugene and Clarice Hutchinson Bernard. Greg graduated from Stephens High School in Rumford, Class of 1968. He also graduated from Eastern Maine Vocational Technical Institute in 1976 and in 1982 from the B.I.W. Shipfitting Apprenticeship Program.

In 1982, Greg moved to Auburn and commuted to B.I.W., where he worked as a marine draftsman up until his car accident in 2006, which left him a quadriplegic. He spent several months at Spaulding Rehabilitation Center in Boston, Mass. He then moved to Brunswick to be closer to family.

Before his accident, he was an avid ballroom dancer. After his accident, Greg had an amazing attitude about his new life. He spent hours on the computer and the telephone trying to accomplish his goal of contacting all his past friends.

He is survived by his father of Topsham; his brother, Timothy Bernard of Tennessee; his sister and her husband, Deborah and Donald Siviski of Wiscasset; two nieces, Jodi Siviski of Greenland, N.H., and Kari Siviski Economou and her husband, Aaron, of Kittery; a nephew, Nicholas Siviski and his wife, Lauren, of Portland; and five great-nieces and -nephew, Kaitlyn, Maggie, Decker, Adeline and Violet. He was a great friend to all who knew him and will be deeply missed.

Greg’s mother predeceased him on July 10.