鈥楬e makes everyone better鈥�
He was the first in his immediate family to attend college, but once he arrived at the Heights, he never left, and Boston College is the beneficiary.
Bernard R. 鈥淏ernie鈥� O鈥橩ane 鈥�70, M.Ed. 鈥�72, M.A. 鈥�05, the youngest of three children whose father died when he was an infant, was raised with few resources by his mother, grandmother, and a great aunt, all of whom lived in the same house in Chestnut Hill. 聽
The unlikely journey that began with such a humble and challenging start will reach the finish line this summer when O鈥橩ane, the director of employee development in 自慰视频鈥檚 Human Resources division, and an advisor and colleague to many administrators, faculty, and staff, will retire after a 55-year career at Boston College.
鈥淚 viewed my work as a vocation,鈥� he said. 聽鈥淓arly in my career I didn鈥檛 want to be known as simply 鈥榢ind鈥� but as someone who got things done and done well. I eventually came to realize that how you do your work and how you treat others is as important. If I can feel that I truly gave it my all and fully collaborated with others toward making this the best educational experience for our students, then I鈥檝e done my job.鈥� 聽
鈥淏ernie O鈥橩ane is one of the finest examples of what it means to be a member of the 自慰视频 community,鈥� said Vice President for Human Resources David P. Trainor. 鈥淗e has dedicated his professional life to the University鈥攁s an administrator, mentor, and friend to all. 自慰视频 is a better place because of his many contributions, and it mattered that Bernie was a sustaining member of this community.聽 He will forever be a 自慰视频 Eagle.鈥�
鈥淏ernie personifies empathy, kindness, and reliability,鈥� said 自慰视频 Law School Associate Dean for Library and Technology Services Filippa Anzalone. 鈥淏ernie is the perfect person for Human Resources. He balances employee support with Jesuit charism, particularly the three 鈥榖e鈥檚 of Jesuit education: be attentive, be reflective, and be loving.聽 He is a living example of these qualities; he listens, he seeks to understand, and he lets people know he has heard them.聽 He鈥檚 the personification of a trusted and safe space鈥攁 wise and non-judgmental colleague and friend.聽 When I think of the embodiment of 自慰视频鈥檚 motto of 鈥榤en and women for others,鈥� I think of Bernie鈥檚 quiet and soothing presence. He is one in a million; I cannot imagine 自慰视频 without him.鈥� 聽
鈥淏ernie is the beatific vision of a friend and colleague at Boston College,鈥� said Church in the 21st Century Center Director Karen Kiefer, who has聽 known him for 40 years. 鈥淗e is kind, generous, and wise. Good friends make us better; Bernie makes everyone better.鈥�
“ Bernie O鈥橩ane is one of the finest examples of what it means to be a member of the 自慰视频 community. He has dedicated his professional life to the University鈥攁s an administrator, mentor, and friend to all. 自慰视频 is a better place because of his many contributions, and it mattered that Bernie was a sustaining member of this community. He will forever be a 自慰视频 Eagle. ”
Initially hired as assistant director of financial aid in 1971, O鈥橩ane was promoted to associate director in 1974. In 1976, he moved to the Office of Vice President for Student Affairs where he served as administrative officer for 18 years. He then joined Human Resources as employment manager and was promoted to director of employment and employee development, a post he held for seven years. In 2001, he was named director of employee development.
聽O鈥橩ane鈥檚 initial impression of 自慰视频 as an undergraduate, however, was not promising, as he recounted in a 2020 Boston College Magazine interview: 鈥淚 felt everybody was smarter, wealthier, and better looking. First-generation students harbor incredible self-doubt, but at 自慰视频, I was given the opportunity to use my intelligence, judgment, and skills for the first time.鈥�
O鈥橩ane met his late wife, Patricia 鈥�78, while she attended 自慰视频. She served as assistant director of 自慰视频鈥檚 Pre-Medical Advising Office and graduate admissions coordinator for the Lynch School of Education and Human Development before retiring in 2015.聽 She died in 2017. They were married for 41 years. 聽
All three of their sons attended 自慰视频. Conor 鈥�00, 鈥�07, is a customer services manager at PeopleGrove, a higher education technology company that connects students with alumni, staff, and mentors for networking, career guidance, and experiential learning. Drew 鈥�03 is an individual giving officer at Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, while Greg 鈥�08 is a web strategist at TIAA, a financial services organization and retirement provider. 聽
鈥淭he 12 cumulative years that our boys attended 自慰视频 was a special time,鈥� said O鈥橩ane. 鈥淲e co-hosted family tailgates after football games with as many as 80 guests, including friends, parents, and grandparents.鈥�
Bernie O'Kane: 鈥淚nteracting with so many intelligent, good and caring people every day has been a blessing."
鈥淔or Bernie, there are three important touchstones in his life: his family, his Catholic faith, and Boston College,鈥� said Michael G. Boughton, S.J., 鈥�70, M.A. 鈥�72, 聽M.Div. 鈥�79, former director of 自慰视频鈥檚 Center of Ignatian Spirituality, who befriended O鈥橩ane during their senior year at 自慰视频. 鈥淏ernie and his beloved Patty made a great and indefatigable team in everything they did. Their devotion to their three sons was extraordinary.聽 I have heard Bernie speak many times to new employees and to more seasoned administrators and faculty about his life and career at 自慰视频, and his knowledge of and love for the University is inspiring.鈥�
O鈥橩ane is unequivocal as to what he鈥檒l miss about 自慰视频: the vibrancy and energy of campus life.
鈥淚nteracting with so many intelligent, good and caring people every day has been a blessing,鈥� said O鈥橩ane. 聽鈥淓xceptional individuals come to study and work here.聽 Supporting their growth both personally and professionally has been very rewarding. I hope that in a small way my efforts to support that development enabled them to continue learning, and growing throughout their entire lives.鈥澛�
O鈥橩ane has had an outsized influence on numerous 自慰视频 students during his long tenure at the Heights.聽 John J. Mullaney, 鈥�76, the executive director emeritus of the Nord Family Foundation, shared fond memories of one of his Irish brethren.
鈥淔ifty-three years ago, Bernie hired me for a work-study job,鈥� recalled Mullaney.聽 鈥淭hat encounter evolved into a friendship with a man of three singularly outstanding traits: A Celtic certitude that creation is revelation; quietly living the Ignatian聽Suscipe (a radical prayer of total self-giving and openness to God鈥檚 love); and an incisive聽sense of humor.聽Embodying these gifts, Bernie鈥檚 friendship has been a living聽and enduring part聽of my Boston College experience and education, and I am sure I am not alone.聽 Anyone who has shared a drink, a conversation or a laugh with him leaves knowing the good fortune of glimpsing the divine."
“ I viewed my work as a vocation. Early in my career I didn鈥檛 want to be known as simply 鈥榢ind鈥� but as someone who got things done and done well. ”
John M. Thompson 鈥�79, managing director of PAR Solutions Management Consulting, noted that he met O鈥橩ane in 1976 in his capacity as his work- study boss in the Student Transfer Center, part of Student Affairs.
鈥淥ur relationship endured beyond 自慰视频 and grew deeper, through our respective successes, failures, travels, and heartbreaks,鈥� recounts Thompson.聽 鈥淚n reflecting on 鈥榳hy鈥� for this occasion of his retirement, it occurred to me that it is because Bernie embodies the core Jesuit values; he cares for the individual person, he is committed to continuous improvement in everything he does鈥攍eaving everything he touches better than when he began; he always seeks the good in others, and he is well-rounded.聽 My friend and mentor, Bernie is for me the best example of the unity of heart, mind and soul.聽 To describe Bernie in fewer words: sincerity, thoughtfulness, humility, integrity, intellect.
鈥淏ernie and I stayed in contact after my graduation.聽 We both made a point of reaching out to each other while our families grew (we both had three children).聽 The Eagles鈥� football games were the best opportunities to ensure continuity over those busy years, especially since Bernie and Patty hosted great tailgates.聽 Now in our senior years, there have been more opportunities to share experiences either in our respective homes in Newton and Providence or in distant locations such as St. Louis, Alexandria, Virginia or Paris.聽 One of us ensures that we speak or meet on a regular basis鈥攆or almost five decades!鈥�
The Hon. Dineen A. Riviezzo, 鈥�89, a New York State Court of Claims Judge, recalled meeting O鈥橩ane in 1986 when he volunteered to help her and the Undergraduate Government of Boston College pilot a mentoring initiative called the Faculty Fellow Program, which paired faculty and staff with a dorm floor of freshmen.聽
鈥淲ith his help, the program grew from one freshmen dorm to a college-wide program run by professional staff in University Housing,鈥� she said.聽 鈥淥ver these past 40 years, I have looked to Bernie as my role model for how to live the Jesuit ideal of 鈥榤en and women for others.鈥� 聽Bernie鈥檚 dedication to his family, his friends, the mission of Boston College, our Catholic faith, and the well-being of students and staff is unapparelled, deserves to be celebrated and should be emulated.鈥�
Daniel G. Ennis 鈥�92, executive vice president of Duke University, met O鈥橩ane during his sophomore year.
鈥�He was the chosen project mentor for my Jenks Leadership project to build a Freshman Day of Service program,鈥� noted Ennis.聽 鈥淏ernie was an invaluable and patient counselor to me as I worked with 自慰视频 administrative and external partners in figuring out how to make a meaningful service experience for first-year 自慰视频 students and for the participating community organizations.
鈥淥ur first day of service was successfully executed in the fall of 1991. Building on this terrific experience with Bernie, I found myself regularly returning to him for his advice on any number of fronts, including educational, professional, and personal.
鈥淭he friendship that has grown between us over all these years is one I treasure. Bernie truly embodies all that is good and right about Boston College. He models the Jesuit ideals in all that he does. 自慰视频 is a better place for Bernie鈥檚 dedicated service and impressive contributions.鈥�