Nashua loses longtime businessman, Greatest Generation veteran

Published: Monday, January 11, 2010

Courtesy photo Members of the State Veterans Advisory Committee meet to discuss legislation for the new pending active duty license plates.

Last week, we lost another 1,000 to 1,500 of our veterans from the Greatest Generation. One of those who died was Bernie Pastor, of Nashua, a great humanitarian, businessman, charity organizer and athlete. More importantly, a good man who looked after others.

I moved to Nashua in 1974 and lived three houses away from the Pastors. Our new home needed a new kitchen, which we bought from Bernie’s store, Fletcher’s Appliance. Now I am into my third new kitchen in three different houses, but Fletcher’s Appliance always had the best service in the city.

When I went to buy my first big screen TV (a 52-incher), Fletcher’s Appliance was the only one that had them. That purchase brought forth a Sugar Bowl party every year for the next 25 years, with more than a hundred people at the party every year. It was my way of building my practice by networking with doctors, lawyers and candlestick makers.

When I first came to Nashua, I joined the YMCA because I had played racquetball and handball in the service. I started playing and getting into tournaments. I was picked to play against an old man of 60 years. After he took me apart, 21-3 and 21-4, I thought that I better practice more. Over the years, I never beat Bernie Pastor.

Now that Bernie has gone to meet his ultimate commander, I can talk about our “choir practice.” On Wednesdays, we were all called by Dr. Norman Cote to choir practice, which was the code name for our poker game. The game was made up of doctors, lawyers and business people, including Bernie and I. We played for a couple of decades and had a lot of fun.

Bernie was tough, and he needed a tough woman. That’s where Selma came into the family. Everyone who knows Selma will tell you she is as tough as nails. You always knew where you stood with her. She serves on several boards in the city and was a sharp state representative for several terms. They were a couple made in heaven.

The service at the synagogue was packed – it showed how many people cared about him.

Also during friendship, I introduced his son, David, a good friend, to his wife, Linda. As a matter of fact, my wife, Linda, married them in a hotel room at one of our local hotels. We then went downstairs and partied with 150 people.

Over the last several years, I would meet up with Bernie and he would thank me for introducing him to his wonderful daughter-in-law, whom he loved.

As I wrote this, I thought about all the other wonderful veterans that are leaving us from the Greatest Generation.

God bless our troops and our veterans.

Did you know?

n Lt. Col. Joe Kenney, former state representative and state senator, is celebrating 30 years in the U.S. Marines.

He will be honored at the TD Garden in Boston at center court during a program called Boston Celtics “Honors Among Us.” The awards are held monthly and recognize people who have made exceptional and lasting contributions. Kenney was a star basketball player in high school.

I sat in the House of Representatives with Kenney. He was a tough-minded conservative, and I respected him for not backing down on what he believed. He has been a veterans advocate for several decades, and we served together on the State Veterans Advisory Committee for four years.

Kenney was called up again to head overseas. The Marine Corps have different tours of duty, and Kenney’s was for six months. By law, he could not keep his Senate seat if he went overseas. The House and Senate passed a bill to allow lawmakers to hold onto their elected seats if called to serve.

When Kenney and I sat together in the House, we sponsored or co-sponsored bills for flying the American flag, to have the POW flag always fly on buildings under the American flag, veterans license plates, getting the state to give a tax credit on property to veterans and many more.

Kenney has a wonderful wife and two children.

Joe, God bless you. You deserved all the credit that can be bestowed on you.

n The Mayor’s Veterans Council meets the first Monday of the month (unless otherwise stated on the city’s Web site, www.gonashua.com). Some of the projects for the coming year are the renovation of the Veterans Memorial Walk (the WWII Monument) and a veterans Christmas tree in front of City Hall with the names of those armed forces personnel in service at the time. We will need input from the families.

Griffin T. Dalianis is commander of Gate City Chapter 7 of the Disabled American Veterans and a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army. He also serves on the Mayor’s Veterans Council and is chairman of the State Veterans Advisory Committee. Call or fax questions to 598-2523 or e-mail GTDPHD@gmail.com.