Bernard Anthony "Bernie" Twardowski
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B - March 6, 2021
Bernard
Twardowski
May 23, 1934 - February 27, 2021
Bernard Anthony Twardowski
passed away peacefully in the
early morning of February 27,
2021.
Bernard “Bernie” was born on
May 23, 1934, to Bernard and
Mary Twardowski in Trafford,
Pennsylvania. Bernie attended
Trafford High School where
he played football and wrestled. He then attended Edinboro State
Teacher’s College (now Edinboro University) for two years, then
was drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict and served
as a Nike missile instructor. He also played on the base football
team beside many future NFL players.
After finishing his duty, he returned to Edinboro to earn his
teaching degree in biology and to finish a football career. He is
enshrined in the 1985 Edinboro University Athletics Hall of Fame
for football, wrestling, track and field. He was actually recruited
to the NFL to play for the Browns but turned down the offer in
favor of a teaching career which he felt would be more stable for
his family.
During his time at the college, Bernie met the love of his life,
Linda Lou Lynch. They were married on August 9, 1958. They had
three children, Mark Twardowski (Deborah Mileski Twardowski),
Julie Twardowski Arotin, and Lori Twardowski Raper (Troy Raper.)
He worked as the biology teacher as well as coached wrestling and
football at Northwestern High School in PA, and then became
the Director of Career Counseling and Placement at Edinboro
University. He retired his career as assistant to the Vice President
of Academic Affairs.
He would say he was blessed with six grandchildren, Ryan
Arotin, Zachary Twardowski (Debra Twardowski), Rebecca
Arotin, Nicole Twardowski, Mandolyn Raper, and Melody Raper.
He was the consummate grandfather who reveled in every athletic
or performance event in each of their careers. He literally built
his schedule around the grandchildren’s schedules, his Tuesday
morning golf league, and Steelers games. Papa was always in the
stands or audience and always got the first hug afterward.
Bernie was an outdoorsman at heart. He was an avid hunter and
fisherman and was a master with a fly rod. He harvested his last
trophy buck at age 84. He loved the trout streams of Pennsylvania
and Colorado as well as taking his family for fishing trips in the
Gulf of Mexico. He cherished his time at the mountain cabin. He
was an avid sports fan with his teams being the Steelers, Penguins,
and Pirates and whatever team his grandchildren were on.
Bernie was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Linda, and
is survived by his children, grandchildren, and grand dogs, all of
whom will miss Papa dearly. Above all, Bernie dearly loved his
family and any opportunity to spend time with them. His family
will always remember him as their kind, gentle, generous, and
unconditionally loving Papa.
The entire family would like to thank the entire staff at The
Center at Foresight for the loving and kind care they gave Bernie.
A funeral mass will be held on March 13, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grand Junction, CO
