Bernard Efrem Cohen

Bernie was born in Denver, Colorado to Jack and Sarah Cohen. He came to the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles at a few weeks old. Growing up in Los Angeles he attended the Breed Street Synagogue, did some amateur boxing, and remembers working out in the garage of the Gold family with Joe Gold (founder of Gold’s Gym). Bernie was the last of his boyhood friends, Jack, George, and Seymour, who kept in touch all these years.

Bernie joined the Navy at age 17 (he was worried that the war would be over before he had a chance to fight) and served in Guadalcanal, the Philippines, as well as many other South Pacific areas during World War II.

After the War, Bernie came back to Los Angeles, where he met Sarah Gantswig, and they married in 1949. Bernie and Sally moved to the San Fernando Valley and raised two children, Candy and Jim.

Bernie was an avid fisherman and frequently took the family out on his boat weekends to fish and picnic. He was an animal lover and trained the family beagle, Pepper.

Bernie attended Pierce College and then became a television serviceman for Sears. He was one of the first servicemen to work on color televisions. Bernie and Sally eventually opened a store called San Fernando Electronics.

When the electronics industry started changing in the 80’s, they moved to Carlsbad, California. Carlsbad became a base for cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal, and trips all over the United States. Bernie was a member of the North County Post of the Jewish War Veterans.

Sally preceded Bernie in death in 2001. Bernie’s beloved Dalmatian, Maggie kept him company until he moved to Silverado Senior living.

Bernie is survived by his daughter Candy (husband Dan), his son Jim (wife Debora) and grandchildren Emalie, Jacob, Joshua, and Julie, as well as great grandchildren Haylie and Isaac.

In lieu of flowers, Donations can be made to the Jewish War Veterans organization at the following web address: http://www.jwv.org/donations/donation.php

Arrangements are under the direction of Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Mortuary, and Crematory, Oceanside, California.