Bernard Francis Puckhaber

Bernard F. Puckhaber, 87, entered into eternal rest at his residence on December 26, 2014. The relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard F. Puckhaber are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 89 Hasell Street. The Rite of Committal, at Grace Church Columbarium will be private. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM, Monday evening, at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway. Bernie's guestbook may be signed online at JamesAMcAlister.com. Known by his friends and colleagues as Bernie, he was born in Charleston, SC on September 5, 1927. Bernie, was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, Charleston, SC. Bernie graduated Charleston High School in 1945 then joined the U.S. Navy. Following his naval service during World War II he finished College of Charleston where he graduated in May 1950 with a liberal arts degree in history and a minor in economics. At the College he was a star guard on the Maroons basketball team. During the 1949-50 season he was the fourth leading scorer in the state. In 1956 he was the Head Coach of the Maroons. He was equally skilled on the tennis court where he was one of the College's top tennis players. In 1985, in recognition and appreciation of his significant contributions to their athletic program, Bernie was inducted into the College of Charleston's Athletic Hall of Fame. In October 1953 Bernie married his sweetheart - the former Anne Stender of Charleston. Bernie joined the Hibernian Society in March 1953. That same year he led the Hibernians to a perfect 9-0 record and the Charleston YMCA Basketball League Championship. He served as Hibernian President from 1970 - 1972. In addition to his service to the Hibernian Society, Bernie served as President of the Exchange Club of Charleston and on the College of Charleston's Board of Trustees and Foundation Board. He also served on the Charleston Cancer Society Board of Directors. Bernie's professional career began with Merrill Lynch in 1957 where he formed the foundation for his 50 year run in Wealth Management. He was there until a fire burned the building New Years Day. He then went to Rutledge Moore on Exchange Street taking three employees with him. In 1965 he joined the firm of Johnson, Lane, Space, Smith and Company as an account executive and co-branch manager. Through various mergers and acquisitions, this firm evolved into Wells Fargo Securities where Bernie served as Senior Vice President of Wealth Management. Despite his many accomplishments over the years, Bernie remained the humble, unassuming gentleman that always made his family and friends proud. His fabulous sense of humor, generous nature and kindhearted spirit, made those who knew him thankful for his friendship. Bernie is survived by his wife Anne Stender Puckhaber, his daughter Susan Allen Puckhaber, his son Edward Allen Puckhaber and his wife, Berta, his only grandson Matthew Edward Puckhaber, his brother Edward Puckhaber of Mobile, Alabama, his nephew Joseph George McInerney III., and his wife, Cammie, his nephew Thomas Allen McInerney, his niece, Faye Alyce Jamison and his nephew, Robert Timothy Jamison. He was preceded by his sister Camilla Puckhaber Jamison. Memorials may be made to: Hibernian Society Building Fund, P.O. Box 134, Charleston, SC 29402 or St. Mary's Church Restoration Fund, 89 Hassell Street, Charleston, SC 29401.