Bruce Clark Bernhard's Obituary
Bruce Clark Bernhard passed away on March 16, 2026, at the age of 75.
Born on April 15, 1950, Bruce spent his early life in El Cerrito, California, where he was raised by his parents, A. Paul Bernhard and E. Fran Marsolek, both of whom preceded him in death. He remained in El Cerrito until 1969, when he moved to the student cooperative Cloyne Court in Berkeley, serving as its maintenance manager. He went on to earn his A.B. degree in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley in June 1972.
In June 1971, Bruce married the love of his life, Judi Sui. Together they built a life rooted in family and shared adventures. They welcomed their son, Kyle, in 1977, and their daughter, Laura, in 1985.
Bruce received an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, where he specialized in transportation under John Carter. His thesis focused on the management of San Francisco’s Muni system—an early reflection of what would become a lifelong passion.
Bruce’s professional career centered on public transportation and left a lasting imprint on the systems he loved. At San Francisco Muni, he contributed to major initiatives including the Transit Development Impact Fee (in place from 1981 to 2015) and played a key role in the city’s historic streetcar movement. He served as director of the final Historic Trolley Festival in 1987 and was a longtime supporter of the Market Street Railway. He also shepherded a downtown San Francisco transit assessment through the legislative process and led a demonstration project that helped prove the viability of extending vintage streetcar service to Fisherman’s Wharf. If you’ve ever ridden one of those streetcars along the Embarcadero, Bruce played a part in making that experience possible.
In 1992, Bruce and his family moved to Athens, Greece, where he helped establish the office structure for Attiko Metro, a new subway system connecting downtown Athens to the airport. After more than a year abroad, the family returned to the United States, and Bruce joined STV, Inc., where he provided project management oversight for large, federally funded transit projects, including BART’s extension to San Francisco International Airport, and rail connections in Denver and Seattle.
Bruce retired in 2010, embracing the opportunity to travel even more extensively. His love of transit was not just professional—it was deeply personal. Every trip was an adventure in motion, whether riding trains, buses, subways, or boats. Memorable journeys included a charter train across New Zealand’s South Island and a multi-day ride on Australia’s Indian Pacific. Even family vacations, especially to Ko Olina in Oahu, included time on the Hawaiian Railway.
Beyond his professional passions, Bruce was an avid skier who spent countless weekends on the slopes in Tahoe, as well as in Colorado and Canada. He loved sharing that passion with his children, teaching them to ski and creating lasting family traditions in the mountains. He was also a dedicated and supportive father on the sidelines of his children’s activities, taking the time to learn the intricacies of football, lacrosse, and equestrian sports so he could fully be part of their worlds.
Bruce also had a deep appreciation for wine, particularly red wines from France. He was an active member of a monthly tasting group fondly known as the “old winos” and regularly attended tastings at the Hillside Club.
In later years, Bruce lived with Parkinson’s disease, which he faced with resilience and determination. For many years, he remained active in his community, participating in boxing and yoga classes and continuing his daily walks. The disease progressed more significantly after 2020, but he continued to find joy in family, travel when possible, and his enduring love of trains. In his later years, when he was less active, his caregivers would often take him to watch trains pass by in Emeryville and West Berkeley—allowing him to stay connected to one of the great joys of his life.
Bruce was cared for in his later years by a devoted team of caregivers—Donald, Jetson, Nyima, Chris, Alex, and Noma—whose compassion and support meant so much to him and his family.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Judi Sui; his children, Kyle Bernhard and Laura Bernhard; his grandchildren, Olivia Bernhard and Miles Bernhard; and his sisters, Paula McCormick and Susan Bernhard.
Bruce will be remembered for his steady presence, his deep curiosity about the world, and his lifelong passion for the systems that connect people and places. Most of all, he will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who showed up in the everyday moments that mattered most.
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