1969 - 2007
Deirdre Ann Bernard was born August 1, 1969, in Albuquerque, N.M. She died June 9, 2007, in Steamboat Springs. She was 37.
Deirdre attended schools in Dearborn, Mich., Terre Haute, Ind., St. Cloud, Minn., Warrensburg, Mo., and Amarillo, Texas, graduating from Amarillo High School in 1987. She attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and the University of Texas at Dallas.
Deirdre attained considerable success coaching girls' and women's gymnastics at clubs in Dallas, Austin, Georgetown, Texas, Steamboat Springs and Craig and at the University of Texas at Austin. During her tenure from 1996 to 2002, the UT women's gymnastics team won National Intercollegiate Club Championships in 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002. In each of those years, Deirdre was named "Coach of the Year" for collegiate women's gymnastics in Texas.
In Steamboat since 2002, Deirdre developed careers as an artist/artisan and holistic healer, practicing energy medicine, massage therapy and a variety of other healing techniques.
She is survived by her parents, John and Olive Bernard, of Amarillo; her sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Catherine Bernard and Joseph McMenimen, of Snowmass Village; her uncle, Aidan Murphy, of Cork, Ireland; and numerous cousins and other relatives. Deirdre was the granddaughter of John V. and Irma Bernard. Dr. Bernard was a high school principal and coach in Hayden (1934 to 1939) and Steamboat Springs (1939 to 1943).
A memorial mass was held June 23 in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Amarillo. A memorial concert will take place in the United Methodist Church of Steamboat Springs at 3 p.m. today.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Steamboat Springs Animal Shelter, c/o Yampa Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 776090, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477.
