The author is owner of broadcast equipment company SCMS. He writes here about the recent passing of longtime sales engineer Bernie O’Brien.
Bernie, who passed away on Nov. 22 after a six-month extended illness unrelated to Covid, was a private person but also one who never met a stranger.
He was always more than gracious to assist anyone, in business or in his personal life. He was well known to broadcasters throughout the United States and to many manufacturers with whom he worked over the years.
Bernie joined SCMS about 34 years ago as a sales engineer, having worked previously for David Green and Associates, which was acquired by Radio Resources. In addition to selling for SCMS Inc., Bernie worked with several broadcast groups on a contract consulting basis such as Flinn Broadcast in Memphis.
He was the first field salesperson that SCMS hired and he was a great engineer who loved the industry — a problem-solver. He loved giving each of us answers to our customers’ questions and problems, providing unique technical solutions from his many years of experience. As he would often say, “No problem, chief!”
Bernie was easy to recognize, with his faded blue jeans and handle mustache, and at conventions he could often be found outside having a smoke with his longtime friend Dale Tucker of Radio World or meeting with his close engineering buddy Dave Hacker.
Bernie, we will see you on the other side in Transmitter Heaven.
