82, of North Providence, Rhode Island, passed away Saturday, July 20, 2013. Born in Ocean City, New Jersey, on December 29, 1930, Bernie committed his life to service in the classrooms, communities, and interscholastic playing fields of New England.
Known to his classmates, friends, and teammates as "Slick," he was the first African-American student-athlete to attend LaSalle Academy. While there, he earned All-State honors in football, basketball, and track, and was widely considered one of the most dazzling runners in the state. In 1950, the Rhode Island Professional Business Men named him Outstanding Rhode Island Schoolboy Athlete of the year.
Slick went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Rhode Island, where he continued his pioneering ways, becoming the first African-American to play basketball at Kingston. After college, he served in the Army from 1952 to 1956, attaining the rank of sergeant, and played on the U.S. Army's All-Division Europe football team. Slick subsequently earned a Master's degree in physical education from the University of Rhode Island and played for a number of semi-professional football and basketball teams in New England. These included the Rhode Island All Stars, with whom he faced off against the Harlem Globetrotters.
Slick's athletic gifts never overshadowed his profound dedication to education. Slick's teaching career began at his alma mater, LaSalle Academy, where he also coached football and basketball. He then moved on to Saint Raphael's Academy, where he again broke down barriers as the first African-American head football and basketball coach in the Interscholastic League. A stalwart believer in hard work and positive thinking, Bernie guided Saint Ray's football and basketball teams to championships.
Slick's teaching and coaching career also included stops at Brown University; Johnson and Wales University; and East Providence, Lincoln, Hope, Cranston East, North Providence, and Warwick Vets high schools. He took great satisfaction in positively impacting the lives of many young people in and out of the classroom. There are scores of Rhode Islanders who are better students, athletes, and citizens because of their interactions with Bernie.
Slick is a member of several halls of fame, including the University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame, Rhode Island Interscholastic League High School Hall of Fame, Providence Gridiron Club, North Providence Hall of Fame, LaSalle Academy Hall of Fame, and Rhode Island Coaches Association. The University of Rhode Island’s Fifth Quarter Club selected Bernie as one of the all-time great performers for the Rams during the decade 1950-1960.
Slick is survived by his sons Jason and Aaron and his beautiful grandchildren Kayla, Myles, and Olivia.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, July 24, from 3 to 7 p.m. at J.F. Skeffington Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 25th at 11 a.m. at J.F. Skeffington Funeral Home. The committal service will be private. Online contributions can be sent in his name to
https://www.lasalle-academy.org/give"
target="_blank">LaSalle Academy. Mail contributions to LaSalle Academy to:
LaSalle Academy
Development Office
LaSalle Academy
612 Academy Ave.
Providence, RI 02908
LaSalle's contribution website link:
https://www.lasalle-academy.org/give"
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