Born Jan. 27, 1928, Bernie Reading came to Englewood as a boy in 1934. He passed away Sept. 3.
He served with the U.S. Coast Guard in World War II and attended Florida Southern College.
He was an actor in theater and television in New York and Detroit. He wrote, produced and announced his own radio show from 1963 to 1973.
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In the late 1950s to 1963, Reading was a reporter, feature writer and columnist for the Englewood Herald. He was an auto racing announcer, photographer, a sign painter, owner of Englewood Signs and a hunting and fishing guide.
Reading was a life member of the Suncoast Writers Guild and served as director in 2003 and 2004. He was a life member of the Englewood Art Center and wrote a column for the Englewood Sun.
In 2007 he published "Love, Laughter, Ice Cream and Whiskey," a collection of his stories, photography, and poetry.
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There will be a celebration of his life from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at the American Legion Post No. 113, Rotonda West.
He had many friends and family that he cared about, loved to shared his writings with them. He had a full life, lived earnestly and well.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; stepson, Doug Dombrowski; two stepdaughters, Martha Phillips and Terri Griffin; and beloved friend, Dave Hendrickson. He was a major influence in the lives of other children.
Reading will be deeply missed by his friends. He died at home, surrounded by family and friends and tended by Tidewell Hospice, after a long illness.
The last line of a poem he wrote, "The Rocking Horse and the Goodbye Door," says it all:
"I am saving all the wisdom I've ever had and more
To make me glad to ride the rocking horse of course through the goodbye door."
There will be a celebration of life from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at the American Legion Post No. 113, Rotonda West.
