Obituary for Bernard McAlice | Strong-Hancock Funeral Home
- Date Of Birth: April 20, 1930
- Date Of Death: July 2, 2013
- State: Maine
Bernard John McAlice died suddenly at Maine Medical Center at the age of 83 after battling a long illness while residing at Cove’s Edge. Bernie was born on April 20, 1930 and passed away on July 2, 2013 with his wife and daughters by his side. Bernie was born, and spent his childhood, in Providence, R.I. where he attended Classical High School. In 1950, Bernie enlisted in the Navy and became a submarine sailor. He attended Officer’s Candidate School and achieved the rank of Lt. Junior Grade. On Sept. 14, 1955 Bernie married E.A. Jean McLellan in Honolulu where Bernie was stationed at Pearl Harbor. After leaving the Navy, Bernie attended URI for Marine Biology. He completed his doctoral degree in Oceanography while beginning his career at the Ira C. Darling Center for Marine Research. His area of expertise was the study of plankton and estuarine research. After completing his PhD, Bernie became a professor at UMO. He not only taught his students but entertained them as well with energetic and unusual lectures and exams. When he was not in the classroom, Bernie could be found in his lab at the Darling Center studying plankton and playing practical jokes on his colleagues. Bernie even has a copepod named after him. After his retirement, Bernie spent many hours volunteering. He was a longtime member of MOFGA. He led tide pool walks, bird and bug walks, and frog excursions for the Damariscotta River Association and Pemaquid Watershed Association. Bernie gave countless hours of his time in various elementary classrooms sharing his love and knowledge of sea life and as a Master Gardener where he was known as “the smart guy.” “Bernie was at his best with the kids, bringing such a wealth of knowledge from all fields and always making everything so much fun” while running the Junior Master Gardener Program, among other things. When not volunteering, Bernie could be found happily puttering away in his extensive gardens or reading non-fiction and poetry. Bernie was a remarkable husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He will be greatly missed by all his family and the many people who had the honor of knowing him. His legacy is the love of all nature, and especially the ocean which he instilled in everyone whose lives he touched. He was gifted with an almost photographic memory, and often entertained his family and friends with poetic recitations. Bernie is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, E.A. Jean McAlice; his sister, Denise Metz and her husband James; his brothers, Daniel and Donald Sullivan and their wives Cathy and Karen; his son, Jonathan and his wife Patricia; daughters, Leilani Gordon and Faith Hodgkins and her husband David; son-in-law, Samuel Gordon; 11 grandchildren, Evan, Semjon, Leifa, Yermolay, Jessica, Ian, Ayere, Seth, Tristan, Nessa, and Alexis; and many nieces and nephews who adored their Uncle Bernie. Bernie is also survived by many loyal friends, especially his faithful companion and steadfast friend, Thomas Quaranto, who spent many enjoyable hours laughing and sharing knowledge with Bernie.