Bernadette Bennett
June 23, 1927 - July 28, 2014
Mountain View
Berna was born the fifth of eight children, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Adam and Mildred Masarik, both from Slovakia. Like several of her siblings, after growing up in an immigrant neighborhood, Berna moved west, settling in Los Angeles at age 18.
Berna began working as a stylist at the Bullocks Wilshire beauty salon. After being discovered at a local pool, Berna was invited to join the prestigious swim team of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. She collected many medals and trophies with the team. Berna was the 13th-fastest in 100-meter freestyle nationally, and tried out for the 1952 U.S. Olympic Team.
At age 26, she married Joe Bennett. After having two sons, the family relocated to Mountain View, and Berna went on to have four girls (giving birth to six children in nine years). She lived in Mountain View and Los Altos the rest of her life.
As her kids grew, Berna began swimming in Masters competition. At 47, she set the national record in 50-yard freestyle. At 69, she swam 50-meter freestyle in 41.40 sec – a small fraction over her time 22 years before. Berna was a Masters swimmer into her 80s.
In 1970, Berna opened her own swim school in her back yard pool. Her students loved her, and with their success at learning to swim, her many clients returned year after year. In total, she taught over 2,200 children to swim.
After her marriage ended when she was 50, Berna reignited and burst into new life. While continuing her swim school and competitive swimming, she ventured into modeling and acting, and traveled with her siblings and children to Kenya, Europe, Hawaii and Bali. A devout Catholic, she made pilgrimmages to Lourdes, Nevers, Rome and Israel.
Berna became a clown (named "Jingles") learning magic and performing at children's parties. She thrilled in exploring her creativity, delighting hundreds of children.
Berna wrote a book on teaching children to swim, which sold out its first printing. The e-book version, still on sale today, has sold thousands worldwide.
Over the years, Berna's focus turned to her seven grandchildren (teaching them all to swim, of course!) and making hospice visits as a Pathways volunteer, including at Villa Siena in Mountain View, where she made her last home.
Berna loved people, giving of herself to family, friends, even people she just met. Her youthful spirit, kindness, empathy and openness -- so often expressed in unabashed laughter -- made her enthusiasm cheering, and ultimately inspiring. Her adventurous independence allowed her to touch many lives.
Berna is survived by her children Alex Bennett and his children Nicole and Evan, Mark Bennett and wife Donna and their son Trevor, Colette Ahrens and husband Brian and their children Monique and Marcus, Constance Russo, Rebecca Rohrer and husband Dan and their children Kira and Katy, and Anita Bennett; and by her brother Alex and sisters Ann and Agnes.
Memorial Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Church, 473 Lincoln Ave, Los Altos, August 22, Friday, 11:00 am. Please join us.
Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Aug. 19, 2014.
June 23, 1927 - July 28, 2014
Mountain View
Berna was born the fifth of eight children, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Adam and Mildred Masarik, both from Slovakia. Like several of her siblings, after growing up in an immigrant neighborhood, Berna moved west, settling in Los Angeles at age 18.
Berna began working as a stylist at the Bullocks Wilshire beauty salon. After being discovered at a local pool, Berna was invited to join the prestigious swim team of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. She collected many medals and trophies with the team. Berna was the 13th-fastest in 100-meter freestyle nationally, and tried out for the 1952 U.S. Olympic Team.
At age 26, she married Joe Bennett. After having two sons, the family relocated to Mountain View, and Berna went on to have four girls (giving birth to six children in nine years). She lived in Mountain View and Los Altos the rest of her life.
As her kids grew, Berna began swimming in Masters competition. At 47, she set the national record in 50-yard freestyle. At 69, she swam 50-meter freestyle in 41.40 sec – a small fraction over her time 22 years before. Berna was a Masters swimmer into her 80s.
In 1970, Berna opened her own swim school in her back yard pool. Her students loved her, and with their success at learning to swim, her many clients returned year after year. In total, she taught over 2,200 children to swim.
After her marriage ended when she was 50, Berna reignited and burst into new life. While continuing her swim school and competitive swimming, she ventured into modeling and acting, and traveled with her siblings and children to Kenya, Europe, Hawaii and Bali. A devout Catholic, she made pilgrimmages to Lourdes, Nevers, Rome and Israel.
Berna became a clown (named "Jingles") learning magic and performing at children's parties. She thrilled in exploring her creativity, delighting hundreds of children.
Berna wrote a book on teaching children to swim, which sold out its first printing. The e-book version, still on sale today, has sold thousands worldwide.
Over the years, Berna's focus turned to her seven grandchildren (teaching them all to swim, of course!) and making hospice visits as a Pathways volunteer, including at Villa Siena in Mountain View, where she made her last home.
Berna loved people, giving of herself to family, friends, even people she just met. Her youthful spirit, kindness, empathy and openness -- so often expressed in unabashed laughter -- made her enthusiasm cheering, and ultimately inspiring. Her adventurous independence allowed her to touch many lives.
Berna is survived by her children Alex Bennett and his children Nicole and Evan, Mark Bennett and wife Donna and their son Trevor, Colette Ahrens and husband Brian and their children Monique and Marcus, Constance Russo, Rebecca Rohrer and husband Dan and their children Kira and Katy, and Anita Bennett; and by her brother Alex and sisters Ann and Agnes.
Memorial Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Church, 473 Lincoln Ave, Los Altos, August 22, Friday, 11:00 am. Please join us.
Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Aug. 19, 2014.
Bernadette Bennett
June 23, 1927 - July 28, 2014
Mountain View
Berna was born the fifth of eight children, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Adam and Mildred Masarik, both from Slovakia. Like several of her siblings, after growing up in an immigrant neighborhood, Berna moved west, settling in Los Angeles at age 18.
Berna began working as a stylist at the Bullocks Wilshire beauty salon. After being discovered at a local pool, Berna was invited to join the prestigious swim team of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. She collected many medals and trophies with the team. Berna was the 13th-fastest in 100-meter freestyle nationally, and tried out for the 1952 U.S. Olympic Team.
At age 26, she married Joe Bennett. After having two sons, the family relocated to Mountain View, and Berna went on to have four girls (giving birth to six children in nine years). She lived in Mountain View and Los Altos the rest of her life.
As her kids grew, Berna began swimming in Masters competition. At 47, she set the national record in 50-yard freestyle. At 69, she swam 50-meter freestyle in 41.40 sec – a small fraction over her time 22 years before. Berna was a Masters swimmer into her 80s.
In 1970, Berna opened her own swim school in her back yard pool. Her students loved her, and with their success at learning to swim, her many clients returned year after year. In total, she taught over 2,200 children to swim.
After her marriage ended when she was 50, Berna reignited and burst into new life. While continuing her swim school and competitive swimming, she ventured into modeling and acting, and traveled with her siblings and children to Kenya, Europe, Hawaii and Bali. A devout Catholic, she made pilgrimmages to Lourdes, Nevers, Rome and Israel.
Berna became a clown (named "Jingles") learning magic and performing at children's parties. She thrilled in exploring her creativity, delighting hundreds of children.
Berna wrote a book on teaching children to swim, which sold out its first printing. The e-book version, still on sale today, has sold thousands worldwide.
Over the years, Berna's focus turned to her seven grandchildren (teaching them all to swim, of course!) and making hospice visits as a Pathways volunteer, including at Villa Siena in Mountain View, where she made her last home.
Berna loved people, giving of herself to family, friends, even people she just met. Her youthful spirit, kindness, empathy and openness -- so often expressed in unabashed laughter -- made her enthusiasm cheering, and ultimately inspiring. Her adventurous independence allowed her to touch many lives.
Berna is survived by her children Alex Bennett and his children Nicole and Evan, Mark Bennett and wife Donna and their son Trevor, Colette Ahrens and husband Brian and their children Monique and Marcus, Constance Russo, Rebecca Rohrer and husband Dan and their children Kira and Katy, and Anita Bennett; and by her brother Alex and sisters Ann and Agnes.
Memorial Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Church, 473 Lincoln Ave, Los Altos, August 22, Friday, 11:00 am. Please join us.
Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Aug. 19, 2014.
June 23, 1927 - July 28, 2014
Mountain View
Berna was born the fifth of eight children, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Adam and Mildred Masarik, both from Slovakia. Like several of her siblings, after growing up in an immigrant neighborhood, Berna moved west, settling in Los Angeles at age 18.
Berna began working as a stylist at the Bullocks Wilshire beauty salon. After being discovered at a local pool, Berna was invited to join the prestigious swim team of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. She collected many medals and trophies with the team. Berna was the 13th-fastest in 100-meter freestyle nationally, and tried out for the 1952 U.S. Olympic Team.
At age 26, she married Joe Bennett. After having two sons, the family relocated to Mountain View, and Berna went on to have four girls (giving birth to six children in nine years). She lived in Mountain View and Los Altos the rest of her life.
As her kids grew, Berna began swimming in Masters competition. At 47, she set the national record in 50-yard freestyle. At 69, she swam 50-meter freestyle in 41.40 sec – a small fraction over her time 22 years before. Berna was a Masters swimmer into her 80s.
In 1970, Berna opened her own swim school in her back yard pool. Her students loved her, and with their success at learning to swim, her many clients returned year after year. In total, she taught over 2,200 children to swim.
After her marriage ended when she was 50, Berna reignited and burst into new life. While continuing her swim school and competitive swimming, she ventured into modeling and acting, and traveled with her siblings and children to Kenya, Europe, Hawaii and Bali. A devout Catholic, she made pilgrimmages to Lourdes, Nevers, Rome and Israel.
Berna became a clown (named "Jingles") learning magic and performing at children's parties. She thrilled in exploring her creativity, delighting hundreds of children.
Berna wrote a book on teaching children to swim, which sold out its first printing. The e-book version, still on sale today, has sold thousands worldwide.
Over the years, Berna's focus turned to her seven grandchildren (teaching them all to swim, of course!) and making hospice visits as a Pathways volunteer, including at Villa Siena in Mountain View, where she made her last home.
Berna loved people, giving of herself to family, friends, even people she just met. Her youthful spirit, kindness, empathy and openness -- so often expressed in unabashed laughter -- made her enthusiasm cheering, and ultimately inspiring. Her adventurous independence allowed her to touch many lives.
Berna is survived by her children Alex Bennett and his children Nicole and Evan, Mark Bennett and wife Donna and their son Trevor, Colette Ahrens and husband Brian and their children Monique and Marcus, Constance Russo, Rebecca Rohrer and husband Dan and their children Kira and Katy, and Anita Bennett; and by her brother Alex and sisters Ann and Agnes.
Memorial Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Church, 473 Lincoln Ave, Los Altos, August 22, Friday, 11:00 am. Please join us.
Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Aug. 19, 2014.
Gravesite Details
Interment 8/23/2014
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