I’m a 70+ year old recent retireee from a career in crisis management public relations, having owned a company – Bernstein Crisis Management – now owned and operated by my son, Erik. As a lifetime folksinger who finally has as much time as he wants for music, I’m happily busy with my hobbies of singing and songwriting and hope to introduce myself as a performer of comedic songs at one of our local open mics soon. I also happen to be a Reiki practitioner, for anyone familiar with that Japanese healing technique, and share what I’ve learned with friends and family. I have even been able to give Reiki treatment to a wolf pack. As a volunteer, I serve as Communications Director for Theatre Americana and sometimes appear in their shows. I’m an introvert who can emulate “normal social behavior” for maybe three hours at most, unless I have a existing friends along for support. But I’m also a former US Army vet – military police, and military intelligence. I have four adult kids and three grandkids, but sadly, for me, only one of the kids and none of the grandkids are in SoCal, but at least that daughter is a fellow Monrovian. I have a rather large tat of a dark knight on a horse charging that I got on my back at age 63, and about 10 different artistic representations of Don Quixote around my apartment, which transmogrified in my early retirement from the home of a full-time consultant to the home of a retired consultant and active musician. Guitars and mic stands and mystery gear, oh my!
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your origin story. Share a little about your childhood and your family.
Born in France, son of an American diplomat, and raised there and in Italy, Nigeria, England, Korea and finally the U.S. Wonderful international experience in hindsight, but for kids it means being wrenched from culture to culture, and just as you start to make friends…moving on again.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I’ve had three careers. US Army 1972-77. Investigative reporter, various media, 1977-82. Public relations, specializing in crisis management 1982-2022. In all three, I got to regularly exercise my inner Don Quixote.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Jake’s, Rudy’s
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community? Tell us about your favorite memory or experience living in Monrovia.
I first owned a home in Monrovia for about seven years in the late 90s, and then as family size increased, our search for more space took us to Sierra Madre for eight years. Upon my divorce in 2014, I slingshotted right back to Monrovia and have lived at The Paragon ever since. Monrovia, every day, provides me with new memories of what it’s like to finally have a home town. The quality of our city government, the friendliness of most people, the services – $3 Lyft!. I’ve lived all over LA County, never found anywhere I truly loved living – until Monrovia. And I’ve worked from home during my entire time in Monrovia.
Q: None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person you’ve met here in our community who helped you get to where you are or inspired you?
I have been inspired and motivated by every Monrovian who made this personally shy guy feel welcome.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Virginia and Florida to visit grandkids. Ireland and Scotland to visit the fae folk.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies of all time? Do you have a favorite TV show or shows?
Anything that has Johnny Depp as a pirate.
Q: What advice would you give to people? Do you have a Life Lesson quote?
“Life is uncertain, eat dessert first” – British author, Ernestine Ulmer.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Finding a final life partner.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what music to listen to?
Kingston Trio
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
The Monrovian
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Bill Gates, for making it cool to be a nerd. And we’d carry out Gene’s Grinders and have a private lunch at my place.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Monrovia or something unique about our community that you like?
Monrovia PD. I have lived in multiple LA County cities and never found a police force that appeared to be more focused on actual serious crime prevention and response than they are on minor parking violations. As a former Army street cop, I have hated to see what’s been happening with SOME police forces nationwide – but not here.
Q: Sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you’ve ever made?
As a young PR executive, speaking with a client in person, I drew an analogy between the management style of my client and the CEO of another business with which I was familiar. My client exclaimed, “But that guy’s an asshole.” I gave the wrong answer. I just shrugged and said “Wellllll….!” As my boss told me later, “It doesn’t matter if you’re right, you just can’t tell a client that.” Somehow I kept my job!
Q: Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I have training in four forms of yoga – Vinyasa, Kundalini, Iyengar and Tantra. I’ve been online since 1982, back then on an Atari 400.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
Costa Rica
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Helping four children survive to adulthood
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
The pleasure of singing in harmony.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
I have a few friends who have GIANT hearts that seem capable of unlimited love.
Q: If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be?
Putting “United” back in the “United States of America.”
Q: Finally, what three character traits come to mind when you think of your success in life?
Tenacity, work ethic, sense of humor
