Bryan Max Bernfeld

Bryan Max Bernfeld, a man who squeezed every ounce of living out of his short life, died on Sunday, August 16. He was just 26.

Diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, at age 13, he endured years of excruciating treatment – not that many knew it. Bryan didn’t let anything as trivial as a disease in his way. He graduated from F.A. Day Middle School, Newton North High School and Boston College, acting in plays, working on school newspapers, participating in sports and engaging in all of the typical nights of mischief.

Bryan found every day an opportunity to learn, to experience, to connect. He revered great works of art, from Homer to Shakespeare to the Hold Steady to Vin Diesel. He was as wise as a man who read more in a day than most do in a month, and he was never shy.

Bryan was an artist. A talented actor, he was never so alive as when he was on stage. He thrilled audiences at Newton North, Boston College and in professional productions, and he trained at the Moscow Art Theater School and at the American Repertory Theater Institute at Harvard University.

Bryan was a great optimist whose spirit rarely flagged. While undergoing cancer treatment, his rare disappointments were mostly tied to his beloved Red Sox and Tottenham Hotspur. Bryan and the Patriots saw eye to eye in success.

Bryan loved his friends and family deeply. He is survived by his parents, Jeff Bernfeld and Mary-Kathleen O’Connell; his brother Jeremy and soon-to-be sister-in-law Kelsey Borner; as well as his loving girlfriend, Jessie O’Hearn.

He is the grandson of Wilson and Dorothy O’Connell, Doris Bernfeld and the late Hyman Bernfeld.

Bryan is also survived by a huge circle of friends and loving family including aunts and uncles Randye Bernfeld, Mikey and Nancy O’Connell, and Kerry O’Connell-Vale and Hubert Vale, and his four first cousins, Meghan O’Connell, Caitlin O’Connell, Daniel Hilleman and Maddy O’Connell-Vale. He had a soft spot for an Italian Spinone named Harper, whom he would swear to you is well-behaved.

Unlike most of us, Bryan actually lived his motto. In typical Bryan fashion he tattooed it to himself. In the ancient Greek. Attributed to Homer, this is what Bryan lived: “Ever To Excel.”

Services at Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Rd., Wellesley, MA, Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 1:00 pm. Memorial observance will be held at the Bernfeld home, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 7-9 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in support of four important elements of Bryan’s life:

• The Bryan’s Bikers team of the Pan Mass Challenge, which benefits the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Visit: http://www2.pmc.org/profile/TB0076; By check made payable to “Pan Mass Challenge” and sent to Beth Fredericks at 28 Duffield Rd, Auburndale, MA 0246
• The Bryan Bernfeld Theatre Ink Scholarship Fund at Newton North High School, a new scholar ship created in Bryan’s name that will be awarded annually to a senior who embraces life both on and off stage. Checks can be made payable to “Theatre Arts Opportunity Committee, Inc.” and sent to Adam Brown at Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, MA, 02460.
• The Theater Department at Boston College. Visit: www.bc.edu/give.  At this site, choose “Other” and write in “Theatre Department.” There is also a section to dedicate the donation to Bryan. By phone with credit card at 888-752-6438. By check payable to “Boston College Theatre Depart ment” and sent to: Boston College, Office of University Advancement , Cadigan Alumni   Center, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.
• The A.R.T. Institute at Harvard University. Checks can be made payable to “ART Institute” and sent to ART Institute, Attn: Julia Smeliansky, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 02138.