Jacqueline N. Bernstein

We mourn the loss of Jacqueline (Jackie) Bernstein, who passed away peacefully on January 15, 2025 at Canyon Trails Memory Care in Canoga Park, at the age of 85. 

Jackie grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in the tight-knit, Jewish neighborhood of Dexter-Davison, on a street where, in early elementary school, she met her two closest life-long friends, Judy and Phyllis. She graduated from Mumford High School in 1956 and went on to study at the University of Michigan before finishing her B.A. in History and Education (with honors and Phi Beta Kappa) at Detroit’s Wayne State University in 1960. Upon gaining her teaching credential, she took her first full-time teaching position, at Oak Park Junior High School in suburban Detroit.

She soon met a young Detroit dentist, Dr. Donald (Don) Bernstein, who was soon to make a career shift to healthcare management. Their intellects and values were a perfect, immediate match and they wed in June 1962. Upon Don’s graduation with a Masters in Hospital Administration, he accepted a job offer in Cleveland, Ohio in 1963 and Jackie began teaching American history in Euclid, Ohio. 

She gave birth to Ken in 1965 and Karen in 1967, mostly pausing her teaching career to focus on raising her children. When the family relocated to Connecticut in 1969 and then California in 1973 for Don’s employment opportunities, Jackie created new homes for the family. As her kids reached Junior High School age, she returned to teaching, ultimately joining the faculty of the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, where she would teach for 30 years, 1985 through 2015, when Don passed away.

At Buckley, she taught U.S. History and Civics/American Government, often connecting current world and national events to historical topics. Generations of Buckley students have also credited “Mrs. Bernstein” for teaching them effective study skills that have lasted a lifetime. 

But for all her professional accomplishments, Jackie will be most remembered in our hearts as a remarkable mother and a loving grandmother. She was the consummate mom, juggling every detail necessary to keep her complex household running smoothly, guided by her handwritten weekly lists. She and Don were doting grandparents, hosting the grandkids for sleepovers and taking them on outings to their favorite West Valley hangouts.

She and Don also built a wonderful life together: once they became empty nesters, they were finally able to take dream trips to England, British Columbia, and Maui, and enjoyed occasional getaways to Santa Barbara, eating out, and “date nights” browsing local stores. 

Jackie leaves behind her children Ken (Kathy) and Karen (Gary), stepson Elliott, grandchildren Daniel, Emily, Claire and Naomi, brother-in-law Jerry, nephew Steven, and nieces Vicki and Donna, as well as a legacy of civic education and historical literacy for thousands of her students. 

In the memory of Jackie Bernstein, donations may be made to a charity meaningful to you or to one of these suggested organizations:

iCivics

https://vision.icivics.org/

A nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing civic learning,founded in 2009 by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

Dementia Society of Americahttps://www.dementiasociety.org/

Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people living withall forms of dementia, their caregivers and the community