Bone, who died Sept. 17 in Bangor at the age of 86, served as Houlton’s town manager from June 23, 1986 until he retired on July 1, 1994.
Bernaiche, 87, also passed away on Sept. 17, at Houlton Regional Hospital. He was a longtime member of the Houlton Town Council, board of budget review and countless other town committees over his many years of community service.
Cathy O’Leary, Houlton’s town clerk and assistant town manager, had first-hand experience with both Bone and Bernaiche through her many years of working at the town office.
“I became the town clerk during [Bone’s] time and always appreciated his guidance and support,” she said. “We always enjoyed his visits at the town office throughout his retirement. He will be missed.
“I didn’t know Lew personally but from what I have gathered from the people who worked under him at the town office, he was well liked and respected,” Houlton Town Manager Butch Asselin added. “I hear he had a yellow Corvette that he used to bring to work with him or buzz around town in.”
Bone, a Shriner, also served as a town manager in Dover-Foxcroft and Hampden prior to coming to Houlton.
Asselin had a much closer relationship with Bernaiche, who stopped into his office on a regular basis to talk about whatever issues the town was facing.
“I found Phil to be genuinely compassionate about this community,” Asselin said. “When he was well, Phil would come into to see me at least once per week. He would remind me that he was a ‘shareholder’ in this corporation called Houlton and wanted to make sure that his money was being spent wisely. He would always say, ‘I know you are busy and I won’t stay more than a few minutes,’ but before you knew it 45 minutes to an hour had passed by.”
When his schedule allowed, Asselin would join Bernaiche for coffee Thursday or Friday mornings at Shellie’s Caf√© in downtown Houlton and the two would chat about town business, his health, family and friends.
“Because of recent health issues, Phil was unable to attend council meetings or make his regular visits to Shellie’s,” Asselin said. “To keep him informed, I would call Phil at home to go over the council agenda. Phil would always say, ‘You must be doing a good job because I am not hearing anything about you.’ I told him the day was still early and we both would laugh. Phil was never shy about asking hard questions especially when it came to the budget. I will miss our conversations.”
Lori Weston of Houlton described Bernaiche as one of Houlton’s “true characters” in the nicest sense.
“I had always known Phil, but never truly knew him until I became the director of the Chamber of Commerce several years ago,” she said. “My first instinct when he came through my door was a bit of fear. Phil had that ability to initially intimidate you a bit with that gruff voice and insinuation that maybe there was something you hadn’t done that you should have. However, very quickly all of that would fall away and active conversation would begin on just what was happening — or not happening — in the community.”
Weston said she grew to appreciate Bernaiche’s insight into the community and would often turn to him for advice.
“He always spoke from the heart and from experience,” she said. “He went directly to the source for information and was a frequent visitor to our downtown merchants, learning first-hand what issues they were facing. Phil’s presence at meetings and his ever-faithful tape recorder from yesteryear often served to make people more accountable in a positive way.”
Bernaiche regularly attended Houlton Town Council meetings and would bring a tape recorder to the meetings “for his records.”
“Phil never lost his zeal for town government and involvement,” Weston added. “In recent years, as his body slowed down and he experienced the loss of his wife, our conversations were more reflective of years gone past. I can’t imagine not having known Phil, as an advocate for a community that he loved and most of all as someone that I was privileged to call a friend.”
Bernaiche last ran for town council in 2012 at the age of 83. In his candidate’s profile for the Houlton Pioneer Times, Bernaiche said he wanted to bring about change for the town.
“I decided to run for council because I believe we need a change,” he said in his 2012 profile. “We don’t just need the good ole boys calling the shots. If we are going to have a future, we all must work together and I don’t feel that is happening now. I would like to create a government that allows information to the citizens in an upfront manner. It is also important not to forget our young people need jobs, since they are our future.”
Bone’s funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Houlton, with Monument Lodge No. 96 officiating.
Bernaiche’s funeral will be held Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Visitation for a Mass of Christian Burial service.
