Edwards, a retired Navy man who fell in love with Clearlake and for nearly 30 years devoted himself to its service, died late last week. He was 75.
“We have lost a dear friend, a hero and champion of the community and our country,” said Bob Malley, a former mayor and Clearlake City Councilman. “Bernie was my John Wayne, bigger than life and the nicest man anyone would want to know. He will be missed by many.”
“The city lost its biggest cheerleader,” Frank Cammarata, retired Clearlake Chamber of Commerce executive director, said of his friend Edwards. “He was Mr. Clearlake. He was the guy that never wavered – always for the city.”
Sheriff Rod Mitchell said of Edwards, “Bernie Edwards is a shining example of all that is good about the City of Clearlake. I appreciated him as a fellow civic leader, as a friend, and as a neighbor. Positive attitude was everything to Bernie and I never saw his falter. To say that he 'made a difference' is an understatement; Bernie Edwards set the standard for good citizenship.”
Edwards served in the Navy for 23 years, retiring at the rank of lieutenant commander, said his son, Kevin.
During his time in the Navy, Edwards spent time as a ship repairman, primarily repairing engines, his son explained.
At one point, Bernie Edwards was in charge of repairs for a fleet of 23 PT boats, his son said. PT boats were a class of small torpedo boats the US Navy used to attack larger boats, which became famously associated with John F. Kennedy, who served aboard one that sank during World War II.
Edwards' service continued through the Vietnam War, said Kevin Edwards. Later, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Edwards was stationed in the Philippines, where his family – including son Kevin, daughter Katherine and wife, Jacqueline – joined him for four years.
In the early 1970s the family left the Philippines and moved back to Chula Vista, where Bernie Edwards retired from the Navy and got into real estate, according to his son.
Finding Clearlake
Bernie Edwards would discover Clearlake later in the 1970s, when he made a trip to Sacramento to care for his parents, Ruby and Glenn Edwards. Kevin Edwards said his father wanted to find a growing community where he could be close to his family.
Realtor Dave Hughes said he met Bernie Edwards in 1978. “He came into my office and wanted to go to work as a real estate agent,” Hughes remembered.
While Hughes didn't end up hiring him, Edwards nonetheless got into the business, becoming active on the Board of Realtors and in helping in the effort to form a city redevelopment agency.
Hughes said Edwards was honest, forthright and hardworking. “Bernie was always upstanding, concerned about the community.”
Friend Carl Russ said at the time of his death Edwards was still actively selling real estate through his company, Edwards Realty.
Businessman and former city councilman Bob Mingori met Edwards in 1983. Edwards was active in the city's Chamber of Commerce, said Mingori, serving as the group's president for a time.
“You could always recognize Bernie for his positive attitude about the town,” said Mingori.
Anytime Edwards introduced himself, said Mingori, it was as a “proud resident of the City of Clearlake.”
Edwards wasn't just proud, he also was heavily involved in working on the city's behalf, and sought solutions to its problems, friends remember.
When the Committee to Restore Clearlake formed in the early 1990s in response to the city's high crime rate, Mingori said Edwards was there to do his part.
The group spearheaded the effort to pass Measure P, a half-cent sales tax that continues to provide funds for the Clearlake Police Department, said Mingori.
The measure needed to pass by 66 percent; Mingori said the final tally came in at 85.4 percent in favor of the measure. One of the city's precincts even reported 100-percent support.
Retired Judge Richard Freeborn said he knew Edwards for about 20 years. Freeborn called Edwards “a a motivated and energetic citizen” who frequented Freeborn's breakfast club meetings for more than 10 years.
When Bernie and Jackie Edwards celebrated their 40th anniversary 10 years ago, Freeborn said he conducted the ceremony in which they renewed their vows.
Frank Cammarata said he met Edwards at the time the Committee to Restore Clearlake was formed. “We became fast friends. We just clicked.”
Edwards was heavily involved in numerous committees and community organizations from economic development to the Positive Image Committee of Clearlake and even the Stars of Lake County nominating committee, said Cammarata. Edwards' involvement always aimed to promote the city.
Edwards himself received a Stars of Lake County award in 1999 for Humanitarian of the Year, according to the award's records.
The retired Navy man also became admiral of the Clearlake Navy, said Cammarata, which included some old Coast Guard cutters used for rescues on the lake.
When the military sent in an engineering unit to help clean up the Austin's Resort area, Edwards and Cammarata helped organize a USO show for them on the beach, Cammarata said.
While acting as master of ceremonies, Cammarata said he looked up to see to see Edwards – who was a strapping 6 feet, 5 inches tall – come onto the stage decked out in a wig, grass skirt and coconut-shell bikini top.
Cammarata said he laughed so hard he fell down. “I damn near broke my knee.”
Edwards was “game for anything,” said Cammarata – from grass skirts to a project that painted 27 houses and buildings around the city for free about 10 years ago. As a member of the Positive Image Committee of Clearlake Edwards also was involved in finding funds to put up signs promoting the city and raising $10,000 for a basketball court.
Edwards stayed active
Up until his death, Edwards remained active in a number of groups, said Cammarata. “His heart and soul was just in south county.”
Carl Russ had known Edwards since 1988. Edwards was a frequent guest at the home of Russ and his wife, Judy.
“He was a very, very good person,” Russ said.
Russ said he and Edwards belonged to the Elks RV Club, and had enjoyed camping trips over the years, with favorite destinations including Woodson Bridge near Corning and Ferndale.
Edwards' wife, Jackie, died in February, said Russ; the couple would have been married 50 years in October.
Russ said Edwards had been looking forward to more camping trips to come.
For a person so full of life and optimism, Edwards' death caught friends off guard.
Edwards, said Russ, seemed OK. The friends went out to breakfast last Sunday and saw each other the following day.
“He was always in good spirits,” Russ said. “He had a very good attitude towards life itself.”
Three weeks ago, Edwards had visited Cammarata at his home. The two men chatted in Cammarata's kitchen, and Edwards reported that a checkup showed him to be in tip-top shape.
He had plenty of plans ahead, said Cammarata, having just joined some new committees, and also was looking forward to some fun. “He wanted to help the city and go camping,” said Cammarata.
Cammarata said he was in Oregon when he heard of Edwards' death, and came immediately home.
All of those who remembered Edwards mentioned his incredible optimism, a trait that both baffled and supported those who knew him.
“We talked about that, the rest of us guys,” said Cammarata. “What the hell's with Bernie? Doesn't anything get him down?”
Cammarata concluded that Edwards was a man who focused on the positive. Cammarata said he only saw Edwards get angry once during their acquaintance; the rest of the time he was marked by a boundless, infectious optimism.
“There were times when we were all down but Bernie brought us back up again,” said Cammarata.
Kevin Edwards, who also lives in Clearlake, called his father an inspiration, not just to him but to many people.
“In my mind he's the father of our community,” Kevin Edwards said.
Freeborn said, “If I had to sum it up he was a wonderful man that served his country and his community, and always with a sense of fun.”
Added Cammarata, “He was the best cheerleader Clearlake ever had. He was the best guy the town ever had.”
Kevin Edwards said he doesn't believe his father's work is done. “He loved to help people and he's still not done helping people, I don't think.”
Along with his many friends and admirers, Edwards leaves behind son Kevin, daughter Katherine, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Arrangements for Edwards' memorial services are still under way. Kevin Edwards said the family is working to find a venue that will be big enough to accommodate everyone who is likely to attend.
Lake County News will provide an update on Bernie Edwards' services as soon as the time, date and location are announced.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
{mos_sb_discuss:2}
How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
