- Date Of Birth: September 16, 1926
- Date Of Death: January 17, 2016
- State: Idaho
On January 17, 2016, at the age of 89, Bernardo Yanci Elizondo died at his home in Boise, ID. He was born September 16, 1926, in Lesaka, Nafarroa, to Fermín Yanci Petrikorena and Bixenta Elizondo Leiza both of Igantzi, Nafarroa. Bernardo had four siblings and grew up on a farm finding time between chores to play pelota and remonte. Drawn to music, Bernardo learned to play the piano as a teen knowing all along he wanted to play the accordion. His older cousin Pepito lent him an accordion and gave him lessons. Soon after, Bernardo’s father bought him his first accordion.
In order to migrate to the United States, at the age of 24 in 1950 Bernardo seized the opportunity to work as a sheepherder for his uncle Natalio Yanci in Winters, California. During the airplane flight to the U.S.A., one of the other young Basque men on the trip learned Bernardo played the accordion and suggested he play a couple songs. Hours later, the plane was landing and Bernardo had played songs the entire flight surrounded by singing and laughing…dancing was not permitted on the flight. He spent three years in California tending sheep and later escaped to the Hotel España in San Francisco, working as a bartender where he could once again enjoy friends, music, and food other than lamb and sheepherders bread made in a cast-iron pot.
Bernardo later moved to Elko, Nevada, where he worked as a bartender. After a number of years he bought the Star Hotel with friend and business partner, Joe Juaristi, enabling him to moonlight as an entertainer playing his accordion. Bernardo’s music and energy drew people from across Nevada and Idaho to come dance, sing, and laugh. It was during this time that Bernardo met his wife Estefanía Larrinaga Bilbao, of Mundaka, Bizkaia, who had come in looking for a job. Bernardo turned her down and referred her to a business down the street, so he could later ask her out for a date. Bernardo and Estefanía were married in Mountain Home, Idaho, in 1964. (Bernardo and Joe sold the Star to Juan and Flora Aldazabal and Joe and Anita Sarasua.) The newlyweds moved to Gernika where they were blessed with the addition of Egizkunde (Stephanie). They lived in Gernika for a short time, but due to the state of affairs in the Basque Country, they decided to move back to America.
Once reestablished in Elko, they had their son Ricardo, and seven years later, Miren Begoña.
Yet what Bernardo is most known for is his deep-rooted love for music. He was a founding member of the Elko Euskaldunak Basque Club and was the accordionist for the Elko Ariñak dancers, playing music at almost every Elko festival for over two generations and for innumerable festivals and weddings throughout the American West. It gave him great joy to see others consumed by and enjoying music and dance. Bernardo passed the love of everything music and dance on to his children.
The years passed and in 2007, Bernardo and Estefanía decided to move to Boise to be closer to Ricardo and their many friends in Idaho. And truth be told, to be closer to Golden Corral. Bernardo loved food and was known by family for his hollow leg eating capabilities. The years since were filled with family, friends, food, stories and laughs shared around the dinner table or over a glass of red wine in the backyard. Bernardo’s youthful and hardworking spirit could not be stopped by a mound of dirt needing to be moved. One would think he was a “txinga” champion, at age 88 hauling buckets of dirt around Stephanie’s yard this past summer all before morning coffee or before his family even realized what he was up to.
He is survived by his wife Estefanía, children Egizkunde, Ricardo, and Miren, his brother Josetxu (Maria Ester) in Etxalar, sister-in-law Txelo Mitxelena in Lesaka, and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins in the Basque Country and the United States.
Gero arte, aita. Gure barruan izanen zara…
