Obituary of Bernard Johannes Blaney

Bernard Johannes of Water Mill, New York, died peacefully at home on November 12, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. He was 94. Bernie was preceded in death by his wife, Kay, after 55 wonderful years of marriage and is survived by his four children, their spouses, and 12 grandchildren: Jim (Kathleen Massey-Blaney), Shannon (Nazar Bezanyuk), Brendan, Jack and Margaret; Cathy (Ken Elsasser), Dylan; Lisa (Jim Baker), Jessica, Isabelle, Abigail, and Eleanor; Karen (Rob Holm), Carly, Eric, and Bernadette; and his niece Janice (Butch Dixon; daughters Beth and Angela (Anthony Baker)).

Bernie was a loving husband and exceptional father and grandfather. Born in Yonkers and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, Bernie lived in Huntington, Manhasset, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and ultimately in Water Mill. He was a proud veteran of World War II, joining the Coast Guard days after graduating high school in 1942. Bernie served as a sonar operator on the USS Peterson destroyer escort (DE-152) during the war and saw action during convoy's across the Atlantic, including the sinking of the U-550 off the coast of Massachusetts in 1944.

Honorably discharged in 1946 as a Petty Officer, Second Class with multiple service and combat commendations, Bernie returned to school on the GI Bill, graduating from Iona College with honors in public accountancy including the New York State medal for achievement. He then joined Haskins & Sells, becoming a Certified Public Accountant and serving as an auditor on a variety of accounts. He joined Rapid-American Corporation in 1965 and held numerous leadership positions during his tenure including Director, Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer of Rapid-American, Director and Vice President of McCrory Corporation, and President of Cartier, Mark Cross, George Jensen and Kenton Corporation. While at Rapid-American, Bernie led efforts to raise capital in some of the earliest high-yield bond financings in corporate history. After retiring, Bernie joined Trans Resources International, bringing innovation to the company’s vast potash holdings in the US, Canada and Israel.

Bernie loved to travel and journeyed to many places around the globe with Kay, his family, and friends. Bernie was an avid fisherman, famously known for bringing valued legal counsel, financial advisors, colleagues, and friends on deep sea fishing trips. He was a voracious reader, often consuming multiple books in a single day, and dedicated Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune watcher, with evening viewings shared by all. In later years, Bernie enjoyed the company of family at home in Water Mill, reading, enjoying puzzles, and presiding over family dinners.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bernie's name are welcome to the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, www.foundationforpn.org.