To the Editor,

Bill Bernard was my father-figure dear, dear friend.

If you saw the movie “Rocky”, Bill acted just like “Micky”, Rocky’s crusty trainer portrayed by Burgess Meredith.

Bill was loud, (almost deaf), brash, sarcastic, tough, stubborn, opinionated, blunt, offensive, and enormously “inappropriate”, especially when physically describing someone.

He was also extremely kind, compassionate, devoted, caring, funny, giving, loving, dedicated, loyal, honest, generous, and absolutely a man of his word.

I met Bill in 2014 when I was invited to meet the Warwick Democrats at their weekly Saturday breakfast. His very first words to me were “Who the F*** are you and what makes you think you can sit here?” That first meeting ended with over 40 minutes of interrogation from Bill after which he said, “Well, OK. I guess I’ll support you.” Naturally, I believed that meant I was only getting his vote. Maybe.

I was wrong.

Bill had just decided to campaign by my side, EVERY DAY for the next 23 months! EVERY street corner in Warwick. EVERY event. EVERY meet and greet. Even in the Stop-&-Shop parking lot where he would point out the next voter I should speak to, as soon as I was done with the previous one. And the next. And the next. And the next. And when we were finally done, we would usually retire to McDonalds where he would argue over who gets to pay for the burgers. (He won most of the time.)

One day, after a lady’s small dog bit me drawing blood, I asked her if I could please put a sign on her lawn, but surprisingly she said “No.” (several times!) Defeated, exhausted, and hungry, I went back to Bills car and announced I was done for the day. Bill decided I wasn’t and demanded I go to the next house. He wouldn’t take “No”, for an answer.  I dragged myself over there, knocked on the door and a man answered saying, “Hey. You’re the guy running for Mayor. Wanna put a sign on my lawn?” I will never forget the gigantic, “I-told-you-so!” grin on Bill’s face. This is my all-time favorite memory of this great man.

He died of pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, pneumonia, and several other lesser-terminal cancers. It took that much to finally take him away from this world.

Bill Bernard was the best campaign manager any candidate could ever have.

And, he was a great, great friend right up until his passing.

And, he was honestly, like a father to me.

I love Bill Bernard and will miss him for the rest of my life.

Rest in peace dad.

Richard Corrente

Warwick