Family, Friends and Colleagues Say Goodbye to Rich Berardi

“This is the last call for firefighter Richard Berardi….
Your call of duty is complete. Thank you for 20 years of service, dedication and sacrifice…. These last tones are for you.”

Those words—and the following firehouse siren—pierced the warm air on Monday afternoon as family members, friends and fellow firefighters gathered in front of the to say their final goodbyes to firefighter Richard Berardi.

Mr. Berardi, 51, died Wednesday, Oct. 5, following a battle with lymphoma. His memorial service was held at R.L. Williams Jr. Funeral Home prior to the firehouse service.

Traffic was diverted from Route 73/Main Street in Schwenksville as a drummer and bagpiper marched down the road ahead of the black-swathed fire truck that carried Mr. Berardi’s picture and firefighting gear, including his jacket and boots. The Berardi family stood in the middle of the road, facing the truck. Mr. Berardi’s son – and fellow Schwenksville volunteer firefighter – Phil, 20, held his father’s urn.

Mourners, lining both sides of the street, wiped away tears as they watched the procession.  A huge American flag fluttered in the light breeze as it hung between two trucks’ ladders.

When the brief ceremony ended, everyone headed to the for a luncheon. donated “everything, down to the last utensil” for the meal, according to Schwenksville’s Assistant Fire Chief Mark Brasch.

Firefighters from Schwenksville and other local companies, in dress uniforms with black mourning bands affixed to their badges, shared warm thoughts of Mr. Berardi.

 “He was one of the good ones,” said Schwenksville firefighter Terry Mummet, who became friendly with Berardi during their time together in the fire company.

Schwenksville Fire Company Chaplain recalled Mr. Berardi as “a great guy.”
Although they didn’t know him well, firefighters Chief John Moran and Deputy Chief John Barnshaw remembered Mr. Berardi as “always smiling.”
Brasch echoed that sentiment as he gestured to Mr. Berardi’s photo, “Look at that smile – it was infectious.
“His sense of humor will be missed,” he added, and remembered when he saw Rich and Phil Berardi striding into the firehouse to become members.
“‘Look at that father-son duo,’” he remembered thinking. “It was so cool.”

“We were known as the father-son team,” Phil said.

“You couldn’t imagine two more wonderful people than Rich and Phil,” Brasch said. They’re just tremendous firefighters.”

Brasch’s eyes, like so many others that day, shone as he spoke about Mr. Berardi, and his compliments were punctuated with pauses.

“Usually I have no trouble coming up with words,” he said. “Today…it’s hard.”