Diane Wade Bernard passed away peacefully on Nov.12, 2014 at the age of 84, surrounded by loved ones in Berkeley, California.
Diane was born in Long Beach, California in 1930, the daughter of Merle and Elouise Wade. She grew up in Riverside, California, and graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School in 1948. She attended UC Berkeley and graduated in 1952 with a BA in early childhood development.
During her high-school and college years, Diane was very active in athletics and other extracurricular activities.
In 1952 Diane and Ronald Bernard were married and eventually moved to Berkeley after building a house together in Danville. Diane was highly regarded as a teacher in the Berkeley Unified School District until she retired in 1988. Her teaching style was described as innovative and inspiring and she was at the forefront of the progressive Berkeley education system during the critical 60s and 70s era. She taught mostly kindergarten through third grade, and moved on to teach music, later heading a resource center for teachers called The Teachers’ Center.
After retiring, Diane was a student teacher supervisor at Mills College, and tutored privately.
Diane pursued her many interests, including tennis, music and literature. She played for years at the Kensington Tennis Club, and received many awards from tournaments won by her her doubles team. Diane was an avid music aficionado and enjoyed playing the piano, harpsichord and recorder. She played for many years in an early-music recorder group.
Her love of reading continued throughout her life and she shared her interest with the book groups she belonged to.
Diane maintained a close group of friends that were active in all of these pursuits.
Diane will be remembered for her strength, optimism, warmth, enthusiasm for life and her ever-present smile.
She is survived by sister Joy Moulton, son Will, and many nieces and nephews.
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