Bernard “Bernie” R. Charney, 74, entered into eternal life on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 after battling a rare pulmonary disease. He was the beloved husband of 51 years to Stephanie (Pallone) Charney. Bernie was born in Boonville, NY on February 27, 1945 to the late Roman and Bridget (Lastowski) Charney. After attending college and achieving fourth degree status at the Knights of Columbus, he enlisted in the Navy. There he served with the Attack Squadron VA 46 stationed at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, FL and aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga. His career in Information Technology spanned decades, starting as a Technical Engineer at NCR, followed by twenty years as a Systems Services Manager at LEGO Systems, Inc., culminating in his position as Chief Information Officer at The Connection, Inc. In addition to his wife Stephanie, he is survived by his sons - Keith Charney (and Janet Burt) of Enfield, CT, Brett (and Cynthia) Charney, and their two sons Blake and Heath of Centennial, CO. He leaves his sister Theresa (Charney) Phelps and her husband Bruce of Remsen, NY, his sister-in-law Catherine Pallone of Watervliet, NY and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves two special aunts, Vera Lastowski of Boonville, NY and Theresa Pallone of Albany, NY, and many beloved cousins. In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Bernie will be remembered most for his devotion to family. Bernard's position at LEGO allowed him to travel abroad, where he picked up the travel bug, which he happily shared with his family every chance he got. On the itinerary were family road trips, national monuments, amusement parks, beaches, and his favorite destination to visit with his wife: Cape Cod. He had a love of the ocean and loved to see it from every angle - Cape Cod, Aruba, Hawaii, and California. Of all the places he loved to visit, though, his favorite place to be was Denver, Colorado where his grandchildren live. Bernie was equally comfortable working on a computer as he was working with his hands. Whether building crafts with his grandkids or improving his home, he always aimed for the highest level of achievement in everything he did. This dedication to excellence helped him in his other leisure time passions, golf, in which he achieved the elusive hole in one, and bowling, where he bowled multiple perfect 300 games. His avid enthusiasm for sports extended in every direction, and he combined his passion for travel and sports as a fan of women’s college basketball, when he and his wife traveled around the country to watch the Final Four. He also gave back to the sports community by coaching basketball, baseball, and soccer for his boys’ teams. These are the things that he did, but Bernard was more than what he did. He always had a smile on his face, always was the first to offer help, always was ready with a solution, and always was willing to see the best in everyone. His devotion to making memories with his loved ones is his gift and legacy to those he leaves behind. No matter what other accolades he received or accomplished, his family was most important, and we were all privileged to have known and loved him. Memorial celebrations will be held at Browne Memorial Chapels, Enfield, CT 06082, on Monday, January 6, 2020 from 4 pm to 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 9:30 am at St. Bernard Church, (St. Jeanne Jugan Parish) 426 Hazard Ave. Enfield, CT 06082, and interment with military honors will follow in the Massachusetts Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his memory may be made to The American Legion Post 80, 566 Enfield Street, Enfield, CT 06082 or legion.org.