Dave Steeves (Friend)

Entered May 12, 2020 from Gravenhurst

A high school friend who shared many happy memories as a classmate, life guard and friend.

Dave Ross (Old Sailing Buddy)

Entered May 14, 2020 from Markham, Ontario

John Moody just let me know of Bernd's passing. I am was shocked to hear the sad news. I had lost touch with Bernd somewhat since we stopped sailing together several years ago. I sailed with Bernd for over twenty years with our week night racing and our annual summer sailing trips on Windquest and Quicksilver. Bernd was a good ship mate and we always enjoyed good discussions after sailing over a beer. Condolences and best wishes. "Smooth sailing old friend!"

Anne Schmidt (Ex-wife)

Entered May 14, 2020 from Picton, Ontario

Bernd is gone, but not forgotten.

Hollie Davis (Sister In Law)

Entered May 14, 2020 from Prince George

Bernt was always ready for a good meal and excellent restaurant. He loved his cold cuts and cheese which he passed up on after Gerhardt died for fear of getting cancer. Bernt supported my son Colter after his Dad (Gerhardt) died. He was there for Colter's graduation from University and was always ready with advice and support for Colter. I always admired Bernt. He was friendly, laughing and fun. I visited him in Toronto in August 2019. I am glad to have been with him even though he was drifting away from us. Love to Bernt from Hollie

Rebecca Manson (Friend for fourty years)

Entered May 15, 2020 from Toronto

He gave me his love of Norton motorcycles. I am working on his orange 1971 750 Commando that he sold me many years ago. He gave me a love of Dim Sum, Indian food of all kinds, and chilli powder on pop corn. He gave me his wide ranging interests in world politics. He gave me a love of travelling. He gave me the art of the argument, something he perfected. A decent man.

A note to my brother: Bernd, not a day goes by since you left us that I do not think of you and miss you. You were not just my brother, but my friend, as well as Jeff's godfather and Andrea's beloved uncle. You were part of our lives, so enmeshed in the later years that it is difficult to separate your life from mine. We shared so many wonderful dinners, you and Dave and I; that, each special dinner we cook still elicits comments of "Oh my, Bernd would so love this. Cheers. We so wish you were here." Sadly missed and never forgotten. We love you!!

It was such a pleasure knowing and sharing meals together. You always brought the wine and insisted that the cook needed to have the pleasure of wine to prepare our palette for the meal ahead. Often it was game of some sort. So often the memories of the dinners we shared become the conversation during our meals now, so here's to you! Remembered and not forgotten, in the hearts of those who knew and loved you.

Uncle Bernd... truly a mainstay in my life growing up. Present at every lunch, dinner, and family gathering through my childhood and until your passing, you really were a model of what every uncle should be: fun, warm, gregarious, happy, full of stories, and an inspiring figure to respect, admire, and look up to. You never failed to greet us with the biggest and loudest of hugs that you could muster, and again the same upon leaving as well. You played Santa when we were young, and encouraged us to live our lives to the fullest as we aged. I never knew anyone with as many stories and incredible experiences to reflect upon. Your travels, adventures, and attitude to life filled me with awe and jealousy, and opened my eyes to the possibilities of the world. I wanted to live the adventures that you experienced, and that potential always stuck with me. You really did inspire me as I grew up, and I don't think I ever appreciated how lucky I was to have you as my uncle. Looking back as an adult, I can see pretty clearly now that I would've loved to have been friends with you. It's so sad now that I can only wish I'd engaged with you more as a kid and spent more time enjoying who you were as a person. It's pretty cruel how revelations such as this only occur as time passes and people age, but I'd like to think that if we could, you might enjoy skiing, hiking, drinking some wine, and spending time together now as much as I would.
You were my family beyond Mom, Dad, and Andrea, and for that, I'll always be grateful. The illnesses that brought about the end of your life are cold and brutal, and it will be forever unfair that they were able to take down a person of your warmth and quality. My life on the other side of the world prevented me from seeing you in those final times, but I hope you felt happy with your time in this world, because you certainly deserved to.
I could ramble on for far longer - probably a fitting way to tribute a man of many words himself - but I won't be able to appropriately craft anything coming close to what you deserve, so I'll leave it here simply with 'thank you'.