Bernard “Bernie” Yudain (1918-2010) was a long time Greenwich resident who, even when working elsewhere, maintained a home in Greenwich and continued to write columns for Greenwich Time for the entirety of his life. Bernie was also a long time reporter, starting with his first jobs at the Norwalk Hour and Bridgeport Time-Star in 1936, although he began working for the Greenwich Time just a year later. His career as a reporter, or “newspaperman” wasn’t interrupted by World War II, serving with a bomber group in the Air Force in Italy and writing for the Stars & Stripes newspaper. On his return home in 1945 he became the managing editor of the Greenwich Time, shortly thereafter breaking the biggest story Greenwich had personally seen in a long time, that being the planned location of the United Nations in the back country of Greenwich. The tip on this story was from Prescott Bush, and this relationship took Bernie from Greenwich to Washington, D.C. in 1954 where he was appointed to serve as deputy director of information for the Foreign Operations Administration. After his work with the FOA, he worked briefly in New York for Time, Inc. before being appointed to head the company’s Washington office by Henry Luce himself. After 12 years heading the Washington office Bernie was brought back to New York to work as corporate affairs director under James Linen. Bernie was once again brought to Washington, this time by then-senator Lowell Weicker Jr. as his director of communications.
Outside of work, Bernie was a devoted member of the Greenwich community. He was a long time member of the Stanwich Club, co-founder of the Harpoon Society, intensely involved in the celebration of the 350th anniversary of Greenwich, and served on the board of directors for the Greenwich branch of United Way. Bernie was a well-loved Greenwich figure, earning himself the moniker Mr. Greenwich thanks to his unwavering presence and involvement in the community.
