The One and Only…
From his infectious smile to his talent as a photographer, from his wit and charm to his culinary skills, Bernie is a volunteer extraordinaire who brings all of it to the TriCircle table with wisdom, humility, and grace. He is keenly interested in supporting people who are affected by the disease of addiction and can be found offering sage advice to those who are fortunate enough to cross his path.
When asked about his career and what brought him and his talents to TriCircle’s doorstep, Bernie responded:
“I have over 46 combined years in the service industry, 20+ years in the food industry, starting in 1976, successfully learning the craft of line cooking and food prep from other individuals and chefs who taught me what I needed to know. I loved the challenges that came with cooking, and I also loved feeding people good, tasty, nourishing meals. I also have 20+ years in the Photography & Digital Imaging field, having earned a degree late in life at Paier College of Art in 2000, starting with the traditional styles of film photography. At the same time, I learned how to navigate the new world of digital imaging when the old ways were replaced with the new ways of doing things. I also earned a Certificate from Gateway Community College Drug and Alcohol Recovery Counselor Program as a “Substance Abuse Counselor” in 2016. My intentions were to retire and go into the field part time, but I find I can best use that skill set and my 27 years of working with others in the substance abuse/recovery arena to serve a larger community that goes unnoticed at times and to have real conversations about the disease itself and who or how it affects us all in one form or another.”
Bernie is clearly part of the solution for others. Now semi-retired, he is currently managing the Kitchen and Dining Services part time at Master’s Manna Food Pantry and Resource Center in Wallingford, CT. Bernie helps to enlighten and support those he encounters in any way he can and volunteers at every opportunity to help TriCircle achieve its mission and vision. He can be found preparing amazing culinary creations for any one of our many events throughout the year or taking touching photos and capturing moments to preserve the memories we make along the way. He freely and generously brings his talents to the table and genuinely loves to make a difference in the lives of others.
Bernie is well aware of the destruction that comes with the disease and how it affects whole families and all of the relationships around the individual who is struggling. “The isolation created by substance use is crippling for not only the individuals themselves, but also the families, friends and co-workers they associate with,” he offered, “and the holidays are especially tough because someone, somewhere, is missing one way or another. We are all missing people at this time of year, whether it is through their physical death or the induced isolation created by the disease.” Bernie’s desire is to bring about much needed change by helping TriCircle continue to create long term solutions that will positively impact those seeking recovery or by just helping to plant the seed of how it is possible to those who are not ready to live in the solution yet. The message he would like to deliver, “If you are struggling, you are not alone; there are many who have experience to share. So, speak up, reach out for help and know that you have a beautiful life waiting for you in recovery.”