North Oaks Senior Living, Jewish War Veterans Post 167 and the Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland-Chabad came together on Wednesday, April 30 to recognize a Jewish veteran who went above and beyond in his service to the U.S. during World War II.
Dr. Bernard Vine, who served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 and spent more than 50 years working as a dentist, celebrated his 102nd birthday and was presented with the Centenarian Life Membership from the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, which is awarded to WWII veterans aged 100 and older.
Vine, who lives at North Oaks, was surrounded by family, friends, fellow Jewish veterans and other community members as they celebrated his birthday with him.
A lifelong Baltimore resident, Vine was born to immigrant parents—his father was from Russia, and his mother was from Poland. His father owned several grocery stores in the area. The youngest of four siblings, he enlisted in the Army shortly after he graduated from college.
“Bernie served our country in WWII as a Staff Sergeant, working on radar towers, including during his time in Hawaii,” said Dan Berkovitz, Quarter Master of JWV Post 167. “Some people hear Hawaii and think of beaches and palm trees, but during the war, especially after Pearl Harbor, Hawaii became one of the most vital military hubs in the Pacific.”
While Vine wasn’t on the front lines of combat during WWII, his work on radar equipment played a key role during the war. Radar was a new technology at the time, having only been demonstrated in the U.S. during the early 1930s, and it helped the Allies to track the movements of enemy planes and anticipate incoming attacks.
“His work on radar systems helped protect lives, detect threats and give our military the edge it needed in the Pacific,” Berkovitz added. “This kind of service, sometimes overlooked, was absolutely essential to the war effort and deserves our deepest recognition.”
When Vine returned from Hawaii in 1946, he studied dentistry and opened a practice in Sparrows Point, and later on Washington Boulevard in Baltimore. He worked as a dentist for more than 50 years.
At around the same time, he also married his wife, Shirley, after the two of them met on a blind date. The couple never had children, but they owned several dogs and cats and frequently traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe before Shirley’s death in 2016.
In addition to being awarded the Centenarian Life Membership from JWV, Vine was also given a special certificate from JUSA-Chabad, a commendation from the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families and a proclamation from Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka, who attended the event.
“One of the reasons I always define Baltimore County’s second district as being beautiful is because of people like Dr. Vine,” Patoka said. “To me, just by looking around, I can see that [Bernie’s] made a difference. Lots of friends, neighbors, families and admirers chose to be here because they admire [him].”
After his service, Vine continued to stay involved in his local community, including at the JCC. While he’s retired now, Vine has been going strong at North Oaks since he moved there in 2018. His niece, Jan Seff, noted that he’s attended 235 fitness classes at the senior living facility over the past year, and even at 102, he still consistently exercises on his own time as well.
“He’s known for his great sense of humor,” Seff said. “It’s part of what keeps him present and joyful.”
Vine’s secret to longevity? “Don’t die,” he says.
“I have eye problems and hearing problems, but other than that, I’m perfect,” he quipped.
