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Bernard L. "Doogie" Reider was born in Bellefonte, Pa., on Sept. 21, 1941, the son of Earl L. "Pete" Reider and Mayme J. (Stover) Reider, and grew up in Rebersburg.
He attended Miles Township Elementary School and was a 1959 graduate of Penns Valley High School. In May 1963, Bernard graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a Mathematics Major.
In September of 1963, he began a 41-year career with the Jackson Township School District in Jackson, N.J., where he held several positions including the following: mathematics teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, athletic director and Principal of Adult Education and After School Child Care.
Bernard started the wrestling program at Jackson High School in 1966, and in following years established club/recreation wrestling programs at the middle school. His wrestlers at Jackson Memorial won many team and individual titles, including four NJSIAA State Titles. Bernard retired from coaching after the 1981-1982 season.
As a result of his staff's support and his wrestler's successes, Bernard was named Coach of the Year several times and was later inducted into several wrestling-related halls of fame including in 2013, when he was inducted into the New Jersey Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his lifetime service to wrestling.
In 1978, Bernard earned a Master of Arts Degree in Supervision from Georgian Court College in Lakewood, N.J., and later earned guidance and administration degrees.
In June of 1986, Bernard delivered the commencement address at his high school alma mater, Penns Valley Area High School.
In 1997, Bernard was appointed Principal of Jackson Memorial High School, a position he held until 2001, at which time he was named Director of Community Services.
Bernard retired from the school district in 2003, at which time the Jackson Board of Education dedicated the Memorial Building, the original building at Jackson Memorial High School, as "Bernie Reider Hall."
Bernard was a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association as well as a member of the Penn State Nittany Lion Club. He was a PSU football season ticket holder since 1991 and attended the games with friends. He was also a member of the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and was a season ticket holder for their matches for several years.
Bernard enjoyed reunions with his former schoolmates from Miles Township and the Penns Valley Class of 1959. His most enjoyable reunions were with his family, the descendants of his grandparents, George and Mabel Emma Stover, of Penn Township, Pa.
Before moving to New Jersey in 1963, he was a regular parishioner at the former Emmanuel United Methodist Church (now God's Missionary Church) in Rebersburg where he was the Sunday School teacher for the pre-teen class for several years.
Bernard is survived by his wife, Karen; his son, Brad; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. He also leaves behind many friends, some of whom were childhood schoolmates, colleagues, neighbors and his former students and wrestlers. Among his all-time closest friends were his childhood buddies from Rebersburg.
He and Karen found much joy in the beauty of their home and garden, by dining out and by attending plays performed by local production companies. They also enjoyed their holiday dinners with Karen's family.
His greatest joys in life were the times spent with his son, Brad, at their family house in Rebersburg and attending Grange Fair with him. It was there that they visited with family, the Lanes, and his closest childhood friends, the Wolfes, with whom he enjoyed their family's annual Saturday night supper at their tent and many other longtime friends.
His most cherished memories were those taking his young son fishing and spending many hours with him watching the military air traffic at McGuire Air Force base. In his later years, Bernard was treated by Brad to long rides in the mountains surrounding Brush and Penns Valley.
Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, Earl L. "Pete" and Mayme Jane (Stover) Reider, to whom he was forever grateful for the gift of a college education and a wonderful childhood/teenage life in Rebersburg, Pa.; and by his former spouse, Eileen.
Family and friends will be received on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, from 4-6 p.m., at the Steven R. Neff Funeral Home in Millheim.
A Celebration of Life service in honor of Bernard will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, at God's Missionary Church, 145 N. Alley in Rebersburg, with Pastor John Zechman officiating.
Interment will be in the Evangelical Cemetery adjacent to the church.
Please do not send flowers in Bernard's memory; instead, consider a donation be given to God's Missionary Church, c/o Margaret Bennett, 157 Rockville Road, Rebersburg, PA 16872 or to the Miles Twp. Fire Company, PO Box 155, Rebersburg, PA 16872.