Obituary of Bernhard O. Meyer

Bernhard O. Meyer

Bernie Meyer, aged 92 and a resident of Twilight Park in Haines Falls, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, June 19, 2025. He is survived by his three children, Christoph, Jane, and Rob, and his four grandchildren, Alexander, Aidan, Julia, and Callan.

Bernie grew up in Brooklyn with his parents, Bernhard Julius and Julia, and his older sister Ina. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School and planned to continue his studies at Purdue University, where he would study engineering. Before college, Bernie was stationed in Bavaria as an MP during the Korean War. Although he never achieved a rank higher than private, his sister was also there working for Voice of America, which gave him access to the Officers’ Club, to the bewilderment of his superiors. It was while he was stationed in Europe that Bernie’s father died, and his college plans were put on hold. He returned to Brooklyn to live with his family and help support his mother. He started out in the insurance industry, working at AIG and Fireman’s Fund, taking classes at both The College of Insurance and Columbia. Eventually, he went on to lead the Reinsurance Property and Casualty Department at Skandia America and later at a subsidiary called The Hudson, which he was tapped to lead. He stayed at Hudson and Skandia until his retirement in 1995.

Bernie was introduced to his future wife Joyce in 1952, and they were married in 1958 at the historic Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn Heights, where they lived for most of their married life. Together, they raised three children on Willow Street and were fixtures of the neighborhood for almost four decades.

Joyce and Bernie purchased Brookwood, their "dream home" in 1981, after visiting friends who owned a house in Twilight Park. As with the apartment in Brooklyn, Brookwood became a gathering spot for many of the children in Twilight, quite a number of whom would come to appreciate a good cigar with his guidance. Over the years, Bernie spent most weekends and, eventually, summers transforming their bramble-covered four acres into the magnificent property it is today.

As a full-time resident of Twilight, Bernie became a fixture on the Mountain Top, enjoying his frequent meetings of the Civic Society, his love of the senior specials at Selena’s Diner, and his regular trips to Ace Hardware.

Throughout his last years, it was Twilight and his view of the Hudson Valley that brought him continued comfort.

A memorial service for Bernie will be held at All Angels’ Church in Twilight Park on August 16^, 2025, at 10:00 am.

Please consider a donation to The Community Hospice of Columbia/Greene County, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill, NY 12414. Please be sure to note that the donation is being made "in Memory of Bernhard O. Meyer." Credit card donations may also be made by calling 518-482-4433.

Care was entrusted to Decker Funeral Home, 5312 Route 23, Windham, NY 12496. Online condolences may be made at www.deckerfh.com.