Bernard O. “Bernie” Burns of Clinton, former athlete, teacher, coach, Oneida County legislator, and beloved husband and father, died on July 25, 2017, with his family at his side. He was born in Utica on October 11, 1923, the son of James L. and Alice Larkin Burns. He grew up in Clinton, graduating from Clinton Central School and Hamilton College. He married Carol Davies at St. John the Evangelist Church, New Hartford on August 21, 1954. Together, Bernie and Carol raised a family of four children. They celebrated 62 years of marriage last summer, before Carol passed away in the fall. The life they built together meant everything to Bernie. In fact, just days ago he declared that being a father “made life worth living.” In high school, Bernie excelled in athletics and lettered in four sports. After graduating, he enrolled at Hamilton College and soon enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was called to active duty after his first semester. Trained as a bombardier, he served in the 15th Air Force in Italy where he flew 35 missions over Central Europe as a 1st Lt. in a B-24. Among his service awards were the Air Medal and three oak leaf clusters. Upon his return to Hamilton, he played both football and hockey, captaining the football team in both the 1946 and 1947 seasons. In the 1946 game against arch-rival Union, Bernie gained all but 11 of the team’s 134 offensive yards while playing all 60 minutes on both offense and defense in the 7-6 victory. Following his graduation in 1948, he was offered a teaching and coaching position at Punahoe Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii. During his two years in Hawaii, the first Clinton Arena was built and Bernie returned home to play hockey for the Clinton Comets while earning a Master’s Degree at Syracuse University. He played for the Comets for several years and was the last native Clintonian to play regularly for the team. He later fulfilled a lifelong dream when he returned to his alma mater as history teacher and hockey coach. He taught at CCS for 33 years, and coached the hockey team for 28 of those years, recording 332 wins, 130 losses, and 13 ties as well as numerous league and Section III championships. In 1997, Bernie was named a charter member of the New York State High School Hockey Hall of Fame. He had earlier been named one of the original members of the Kirkland Sports Hall of Fame. Bernie was also prominent in hockey officiating circles. He was an active Division I college hockey referee for over 25 years. He also served as the elected President of the National Ice Hockey Officials Association, and officiated many Clinton Comet Eastern League games. After his coaching career came to a close, Bernie had the opportunity to pursue another of his interests, public service. He was first elected to the Oneida County Board of Legislators in 1985, and was reelected ten times. His interest in politics also took him to Washington, D.C. many times, where he attended four presidential inaugurations, sometimes gaining entrance to official galas by confidently flashing his ice hockey officials pin. Bernie was a long time director of the Clinton Arena, a member of the American Legion, VFW, Clinton Fire Department, Clinton Historical Society and St. Mary’s Church. He was a charter member of the Skendandoah Golf Club, and an avid supporter of libraries, especially the Kirkland Town Library. He leaves two daughters, Nancy Burns Pooler and her husband, David, Slidell, LA, and Elizabeth Burns, Troy, N.Y., two sons, Stephen J. Burns and his wife Monica, Morgan Hill, CA, and Paul B. Burns and his wife Alyssa Schuren, Montpelier, VT, a sister Jean Duffy, a brother-in-law, Fred (Helen) Davies, eight grandchildren, Michael, Amanda (Patrick Cooney) and Christian (Natasha) Pooler, Kathryn, Colleen and Caroline Troue, Dana Burns and Braeden Schuren Burns, and one great-granddaughter, Victoria Cooney. Bernie was predeceased by his wife, Carol, brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Esther Burns, Jack and Joyce Burns, sister-in-law Eileen Davies and brother-in-law Edward Duffy. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the nurses and staff of the Katherine Luther Home for the care and compassion he received. Mr. Burn's Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s Church in Clinton. His Rite of Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Parish Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the Heintz Funeral Home, 10 East Park Row, Clinton, on Monday evening from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make a charitable gift to the Kirkland Town Library, 55 1/2 College St, Clinton, NY 13323.