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| Hanging with Bernie on his boat in 2018 |
I needed to let a day or so go by to collect my thoughts on the passing of Flyers legend Bernie Parent. For me, this was different than when other sports greats have left us. When other Philly sports legends died, I felt a loss because I FELT that I knew them. Bernie I actually DID know, and he knew me. I am honored to say I think he considered me a friend, and I certainly thought of him as a friend of mine. So on Sunday morning, when my phone started blowing up with texts from friends who heard the news about Bernie, I was shocked...and really upset. I had not yet heard the news. So when I saw all the text messages, I went online and saw the statement the Flyers had released. It was crushing. We were not close friends by any stretch, but I still felt a big loss.
Let me tell you about the Bernie I knew. Our friendship began in 2018, and it was all because of TV. Back then I was the regular weather guy in the morning on Channel 17. Each Summer, we did something I called "Lee By The Sea", where I would do my weather hits live from a different shore point every Friday. While I was there, I would find fun places to visit and showcase on the air. This particular week I was going to Cape May. I stumbled across something on social media, advertising a Bernie Parent Fishing Tournament, with proceeds going to The Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. So I Googled Bernie, and found he had a website. I sent a message in the "Contact Us" section, and his awesome wife Gini called me.
We set up two live hits on his boat that Friday morning. His boat was docked at the Canyon Club Marina in Cape May. We got to the dock, and Gini met us and walked us to the boat. I did the first hit with Bernie, and we had about a half hour until the next one. So Bernie gave us a tour of the boat and we talked hockey...and it was amazing. I still look back on that morning as one of the highlights of my career.
At one point while he was showing us around the boat, I noticed he had cigars. I commented that I was somewhat of a cigar guy, and I loved having cigars with my Dad who is a HUGE cigar guy. Fast forward to a few months later, and Bernie is joining us on the News in studio. I greet him in our Green Room, and he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a cigar. He says to me, "Give this to your Dad. I remember you said he is a cigar guy. He will like this." I called my Dad that morning and said, "I have a cigar for you from Bernie Parent". I'll never forget that.
I had also mentioned to Bernie that I have never fished. Never ever have gone fishing in my life. So every time I saw him, he would say to me "we still need to make plans to go out on the boat. I'll take you fishing". Gini just said that to me a few months back. I sent her a text wishing them a Happy Anniversary, and in her response she said, "Bernie says hi, and we need to make plans to get together and go fishing". I am so sad that we never actually made that happen.
One of the many things I loved about Bernie, was his attitude. I never saw the man without a smile, and his smile could light up a room. Anytime I had him on a show I was doing, whether it was my old TV show, "Sports Scene", or my podcast, it was always a fun conversation that could have gone on for hours and hours. With Bernie, the time flew by because you were having so much fun with him.
Just watching him interact with others was awesome. A few years back, Bernie was doing an appearance at a diner five minutes from my home. He was there along with former Phillies Pitcher Tommy Greene. So I stopped by. I didn't go near the line so I wouldn't interrupt what was going on. But Gini noticed me, and tapped Bernie on the shoulder and said, "Bernie, Jason's here". Bernie gets up from his chair and gives me a big bear hug. Tommy Greene saw that, so he gets up to say hi...because if Bernie knows this guy, he must be somebody. The truth is I'm really a nobody, but Bernie made EVERYONE feel like a somebody. That was his charm. He made you feel special.
And Bernie had tons of stories. Very few people could tell a story like Bernie Parent could. I remember one story in particular that still makes me laugh when I think of it. Bernie always wore his Stanley Cup rings...one on each hand. He told me a story about an appearance he did, where a girl in her 20's was talking to him and asking about the rings. He said to me, "She had no idea who I was. So she sees my ring says P-A-R-E-N-T. And she says to me, 'Are those championship rings?' So I say, 'yes they are'. And she says, 'That is so nice that they give rings to the parents too.'"
Another story he loves to tell is how he changed the name of his boat. It was originally called "The French Connection". But his lovely wife, Gini, is Italian. So he changed the name to "The Italian-French Connection". On my podcast years ago I asked him to explain why he changed the name, and he gave me that great Bernie laugh, knowing that Gini was in the room, and he said, "Because I have to do what my wife says".
One last thing about Bernie. He used his experiences, both good and bad, to help others. Four years ago he and Gini reached out to me, because they wanted to tell Bernie's story of alcoholism while he was a player. Honestly, at that point I didn't know Bernie was a recovering alcoholic. I was honored because they chose me to tell the story exclusively. Bernie talked openly and honestly about his drinking back then, and how help is available for anyone going through that. He said it's ok to ask for help because...and I'll always remember this line from him... "In life, you win as a team. You can't do it on your own". He also said something really powerful talking about his decades of sobriety, which at that point was 42 years. He said, "I know I'm only one sip away from ruining the whole thing". Of all the things I've done on TV, that is one of the pieces I am most proud of...especially now.
There will never be another Bernie Parent. I was lucky to know him and honored to be able to call him a friend. A friend I will miss. Rest in Peace Bernie. We will never forget you.