One of the horticultural industry’s biggest movers and shakers, Jeffrey Bernhard, sadly passed away on August 24th 2023, following deterioration of his heart and lung functions due to old age.
Jeff lived a full life and was thinking and planning to the very end. Having achieved one final milestone in his remarkable time with us – his 100th birthday on August 7th – he passed away quietly in his sleep and is resting peacefully at last.
Jeffrey leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in the wider horticultural industry. Many well-known industry bodies, including HTA, GCA, IGC, BALI, BGL and ELCA have been significantly influenced by his energetic contributions, his vision and determination. Other organisations have also benefited from his engagement, enthusiasm, and leadership. These include, Round Table, 41 Club, Rotary, Masonic Lodge and The Worshipful Company of Gardeners, a renowned City Livery Company. He was recognised for his significant influence in the Horticultural industry, being awarded an OBE by our late Queen Elizabeth II. Many other impressive awards have been steeped upon him. The world of horticulture owes Jeffrey a big thanks and happily, his legacy speaks volumes.
In a statement the Bernhard family said: “Jeffrey was an iconic individual as a father, family man and a grandfather, and latterly, as a great grandfather. Coming from a very troubled childhood in war-torn Europe, he began his adult life completely alone. He had only memories and aspirations to keep him going. Throughout his long life he was utterly determined and focused on success. While this may have created the man we know today, naturally it conflicted with family life and culture as we assume it normally should be. As he aged, success followed, and he was able to focus much more on his grandchildren. He was a terrific granddad, providing meticulously for their future in creative ways to benefit them. In recent years, Jeffrey has been devoted to building strong relationships with his wider family who are spread around the globe. He’s been a role model in that regard for many of today’s generation of family. We’re fortunate to have had such a generous and kind man in our lives. There’s a universal sense of appreciation of that love and we feel a huge loss throughout the whole family.
“We'll all have interesting, diverse and fond memories of Jeffrey. He was symbolic of that generation who lived between the 1900's and 1970's. He, his siblings and cousins experienced the chaos and misery left over from the second world war and they transitioned to the excitement of the sixties and seventies when a new generation was born. Jeff's generation looked back on fear, suffering, and loss, while looking forward with optimism, building a new world of growth and opportunity for us. We are the ones fortunate to have benefited from their vision drive and energy.
“Now our children have today's challenges to contend with. They can reflect with admiration on the life and times of Jeff's generation and be grateful for what they have inherited.
“The Bernhard family send you all our kind regards and sincere good wishes for the future.”
The funeral will be announced in due course, likely to be around September 25th/26th at Bilton Church.
