In 1968 a bunch of University of Oregon kids were thrown together in apartments around 15th and Hilyard, just off campus. Bernie had met some of these students through Alpha Kappa Psi, UO’s business fraternity. We all had a blast partying, celebrating, eating, drinking and occasionally studying together. Most Monday nights we got together to watch “Laugh-In,” where cast members would say to each other, “You turkey!” We picked up the habit, and soon we were calling ourselves the “Turkeys.” Many of us inter-married, so we were able to continue getting together even after graduation. Our Turkey Reunions started out...naturally...on Thanksgiving weekends. As the years passed, with the birth of babies and moves to other cities, it became difficult to meet regularly, but we always kept in touch, and even managed to have a Turkey Reunion every now and then. Of course, after nearly five decades, some of our group have passed on. Ten of us will be representing the Turkeys at Bernie’s Celebration of Life to honor the sweetest Turkey of all.

As the child of parents, who left their home country to provide their only child Bernd with opportunities unavailable in post war Austria, Bernd became an American citizen, but carried his parents’ undying love of Austria.  

Bernd’s father Albert came from very humble means. His father, a blacksmith, died when he was young, leaving a wife with three young sons.  Albert, the youngest was a baby. He was exceptionally intelligent, outgoing, proud, and very good looking. When he became a young adult, he lived in Vienna, and was hired as a ‘clapper’ for the Opera.  He secretly cued the audience when to clap, by clapping at the carefully scripted times.  Thanks to that opportunity, Albert became familiar with all of the popular operatic performances of the day.  His job helped him pay for his boarding house room, and his education.  That opportunity planted the seeds of a lifelong love and appreciation for opera and the arts. It also gave a poor widow’s son access to a network of people from the upper classes, some of whom (counts and countesses) he called friends until his death.  

When they immigrated to the United States in 1951, the family of three had to focus their energies on learning to speak English and Albert had to find a job.  He could no longer work as a skilled electrical engineer; his English was not good enough.  He was hired as a lowly meter reader at the public utility.  With a will to learn, an optimistic attitude and good humor, he thrived and eventually headed the department and taught metering at the University of Washington's summer training classes, for many years.
He was able to provide for his family as they each earned  their American citizenship.  The family was eventually able to save the money to pay cash for their own home in Eugene, where Bernd lived during his teen years.   

Bernd attended the University of Oregon and fulfilled his parents dream of succeeding in America. The family no longer had access to the great opera and symphony halls of Europe, but they never missed the televised OPB New Years’ concerts from Vienna, or watching Great Performances. 
When I married Bernie, it became an integral part of my life as well.   

Through the years, it has been a great privilege for Bernd & I to attend so many wonderful productions put on by the Portland Opera and the Oregon Symphony. Thanks to Bernd’s position with Wells Fargo and their ongoing sponsorship and support of the arts, and our own private attendance, we have been blessed with more memorable experiences than I could count.   

We could never claim the level of knowledge of music Bernd’s father acquired, but Bernd continued to advocate for funding for the Opera, the symphony and the study and opportunity to have access to the arts, for the remainder of his working career and life.  

Bernd never had children of his own; he was the last of his small, Austrian-American family. Albert, Erika, and their son Bernd, who was so like his father, are together again now. How very fitting that the Portland Opera should honor Bernd's life, with the music of his birth country, at his 'Celebration of Life.' I'm sure the three Kronbergers will we watching and enjoying it together. 

I would like to sincerely thank Director Christopher Mattaliano, Sue Dixon, and all of the staff and performers of the Portland Opera for honoring my precious husband with this wonderful surprise.  (Click on picture for full photo)

As a neighbor Bernie always took an interest in my and Carol’s life. He was a generous person. He was always concerned about the well being of people around him. But most of all I remembered that he liked to be the comedian in any situation.  I especially remember the time with my Mother on her birthday. This is the picture that comes to mind when I think of him.  
Carol & Nitu

A summer night in 1970. Bernd and I were waiting for the tonight show to start at 11:30. Anyone who remembers Johnny Carson will remember that the monologue was the best part of the show. You did not want to miss it. Anyway, we decided that before the show started we should fix up some grilled tuna sandwiches. Our group of friends at the University of Oregon had been on a grilled tuna kick for months, so it was a shock and surprise when Bernie and I discovered we had no tuna in the house!
What to do? Bernie says,"Come on, lets go to the store. We can be back in time for the monologue....no problem.  We run out to the car which happened to be an MGB owned by Frank Ernandes. He had, for unknown reasons, left it with us while he was in Europe for the summer. Off we go down Walnut Street toward Franklin Blvd. Those of you familiar with Eugene will know that down there where William's Bakery once was, the streets enter Franklin Blvd at a 45degree angle. We had a stop sign, but Bernie yells, "Floor it Henry!" I look back. Only one car coming and its not very close, so I go through the stop sign at 35 mph. We would have been fine if that car I saw didn't have so many red lights on it's roof. I pull over and stop. The cop stops behind me. I got out and started to walk back to the police car. You could do that in those days. I turned around to ask Bernd what he thought we could say to the cop......but he wasn't there! He was crouched down in the MGB. Bernie crouched down in a convertable. Are you kidding me! That just didn't work too well.
The officer asks me why I blew through the stop. I said I had an excuse, but it wasn't a very good one. He told me to give it a try. I told him about the Tonight Show and the lack of tuna. He agreed it was a very poor excuse, so please don't run any more stop signs, What? No ticket? I stroll back to the car, all proud of myself. Benrd wants to know how much the ticket is and I tell him I talked my way out of it. "Great, he says," Now we'll miss the monologue for sure." And thats what friends are for. I miss you my friend.

Bernd was born in Vienna, Austria and his parents lived in a house not far from ST. Stephans Cathedral in Wien.  His father recalled being a proud new father walking his son, in his pram, daily, in the park around ST. Stephans.  They left Austria when Bernd was 5 years old.  Albert gave up a prestigious engineering job with General Electric, to give his only child Bernd the opportunity to grow and prosper in America.  A young immigrant, who came to America legally after waiting many years for approval, and made good.  Thank God for the open door policy America had for so many fleeing war torn Europe.  So many immigrants, who have given back to our country tenfold and have helped make America Great! 

Every summer we looked forward to our scheduled visits from Liz & her family.  Bernd worked for so many years he did not get the chance to visit the kids in California as often as he would have liked.  The time and effort the kids made to come to Grandpa & Grandma's house each summer will always be precious memories.

Bernie & his former wife Jan never had children. When he & I married years later he fully embraced my children. When  daughter Liz asked him to walk her down the aisle, he said, with a tear in his eyes "I never thought I'd get a chance like this; I feel so honored."  He loved my children Jennifer & Elizabeth, and later their children Ben, Alex, Lauren & Charlotte AKA Charlie with all his heart.  They became HIS grandchildren. He bought little things to send them all year long. He never forgot to make their time in Oregon fun, and full of surprises.  

BERNIE LOVED COLLECTING SANTAs AND HAD ALL SIZES OF THEM, FROM 2" TO 5 1/2 FEET HIGH.  THERE WAS ONE RULE HOWEVER, THEY HAD TO HAVE A NICE EXPRESSION OR SMILE ON THEIR FACE!  

HE WAS A BIG MAN, WITH A BIG HEART AND NEVER HESITATED TO GIVE GENEROUSLY OF HIS TIME, MONEY AND SPIRIT, TO WHATEVER CAUSE HE SUPPORTED.

WE HAD ONLY BEEN HOME FROM A TRIP FOR A FEW WEEKS, WHEN BERNIE DIED.  MY DAUGHTER JENNY FLEW IN TO HELP ME. WHEN I PICKED HER UP AT THE AIRPORT AND WE THREW OPEN THE TAILGATE OF THE CAR, TO STOW HER SUITCASE, WE WERE STUNNED.  IT WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH BAG AFTER OVERFLOWING BAG OF TOYS FOR THE  CHILDREN'S TOY DRIVE.
WHEN HE HAD TIME TO DO IT I DON'T KNOW...

WE BOTH BURST OUT CRYING, RIGHT THEIR IN THE PARKING GARAGE.  IT WAS JUST ONE MORE REMINDER OF HOW MUCH HE PRIVATELY, WITHOUT ANNOUNCEMENT, CHOSE TO DO FOR OTHERS.

I PRAY MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL HEED HIS EXAMPLE AND LIVE THEIR LIVES WITH COMPASSION, HOPE AND GENEROUS HEARTS.  AS JOHN F. KENNEDY SAID "TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN; MUCH IS EXPECTED." 

Bernie once told me he followed a cardinal rule in business and life, I don't know where he got it but it went something like this "a person may not remember what you said, but he will always remember how you treated him."  I think more than ever, in today's world, we need to remember that little bit of wisdom.  

When I met his family for the first time his dear Auntie Elfie said he was my "prince", it seemed funny & old fashioned, but it stuck. When he would raise his voice or get out of sorts I used to tell him I 'wanted my prince back', or that he was 'not acting like a prince' and after a little while we would talk about it. I realize now it is all part of marriage. Constant adjustment & re-adjustment. We must not be too quick to assume a sharp tone or response has anything to do with us. We human beings "think" too much. More often than not, whatever was going on would pass. We made a rule we had to give each other a good, bear hug everyday no matter how angry or frustrated we were feeling. That little change in "how" we treated each other made all the difference. 

Like others, I met Bernie and Carol on the trip to Viet Nam in 2016. Bernie seemed to take delight in it all - the travel, the food, the spending time with others, and his capturing the moments with his camera. When he wasn't taking pix, he always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye and be ready for some mischievous fun. About halfway thru the trip, we decided to switch nametags to see how long it would take people to realize it. Of course, Carol spotted it right away! I only spent a short time with them both, but it was very sweet. I was deeply saddened by the news of his unexpected passing and extend my sincere condolences to Carol and his loved ones.

A highlight of the trip I took to Vietnam and Cambodia was meeting Bernie and Carol in October, 2016.  Getting to know them and having their companionship at meals and sharing thoughts about the sights we were seeing was awesome.  I am so sorry that I won't have the privilege to spend more time with Bernie, but am so glad I had that brief time and memories on that trip.