Bernard J. McDermott

Bernard James McDermott was born on July 31, 1953 at the Methodist hospital in Park Slope Brooklyn. His father, Bernie Patrick McDermott of the west side of Manhattan, worked for Moore McCormack shipping company and his mother Mary Theresa of Calderbank, Scotland was thrilled to have a beautiful 10lb baby boy!

He and his mother visited her family in the UK, sailing on the Queen Elizabeth in 1957. His relatives were astounded that this young boy (he was 4) could read the newspaper headlines.

He attended St. Saviours elementary school and was a star pupil and showed a keen interest in art and music, his favorites being all things Motown and then The Beatles. He and his mother actually attended the MotorTown Review at Forest Hills Stadium in 1966. He emulated Walt Disney and was known for the cartoons he drew and used to contribute to Children’s Art Gallery on 80th and Lexington Avenue. His drawing of a TWA jet in 1964 was featured on the popular children show “Wonderama” with the tag line “Don’t Fly Away, We’ll be Right Back”. He would often take his sister with him on the subway adventure required to get from Park Slope to the Upper East Side, taking care to always go over the Manhattan Bridge on the subway. As a young boy of 8 years old, he would often just get on the train and ride, exploring parts of NY, without his parents knowing.

He entered the prestigious Brooklyn Preparatory High School in September of 1967, where in addition to learning to conjugate verbs in Latin, he drew cartoons about a character name “Egg” and distributed these to his classmates for fun. He also learned French and all the other life skills that the Jesuit fathers deemed necessary for building character in young men. In his senior year, he was the editor of the BP magazine known as the “Andros”. While at Prep he picked up a guitar and learned to play “Polythene Pam” by the Beatles and thus began a lifelong source of joy for him, playing his guitar. He also won a New York State Regents Scholarship for college.

In the Fall of 1971 he entered Pratt Institute in Brooklyn to study graphic arts but his love for music won out over his talent as an graphic artist. He formed a band with several friends known as “The Ultimates” who played in and around the NYC post-punk scene and had some success opening for bands such as “Genya Revan” at CBGB’s, a place that was like his home away from home. He was good friends with Hilly Crystal, the proprietor. The band recorded several songs/albums through the years such as:

www.reverbnation.com/bernardjamesmcdermott/song/15921679-drop-everythinglets-boogaloo

He was severely affected by the 9/11 attacks and needed emotional support and in the process moved to Staten Island where he lived for 20 years. In those years he traveled to Liverpool where he met many new friends including Freda Kelly (former secretary to the Beatles) and Geoff Nugent, an amazing guitar player who was one of the original “Undertakers” at the Merseycats music gathering. And he even got up on stage and sang “Johnny B. Goode”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YxHGnPO_2w

Additionally, he travelled to London, Manchester and Scotland for family parties and weddings, to visit his mother’s family whom he loved dearly.

In 2022 he entered Terrence Cardinal Cooke nursing home where he resided until his peaceful passing on Monday, April 22, 2024. The family is extremely grateful to the professionals at TCC who helped make Bernard’s last years joyful.

A public visitation for Bernard will be held Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 4PM to 8PM at Frank E. Campbell - The Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Ave, New York, New York 10028.

A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Friday, May 3, 2024 from 10AM at St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 980 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10028. The mass can be livestreamed at the time of the event by visiting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLrTojpMLQA

A committal service will occur Friday, May 3, 2024 from 12:30 PM at St. Charles Cemetery, 2015 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735.