Bernard Mazie
August 27, 2020
Bernie was born on November 9, 1941 and died on August 27, 2020. His parents were Joseph Mazie and Sarah (Castor) Mazie. Bernie was never married and did not have any children. He is survived by his older brother Fred, countless cousins, nieces and nephews, and a multitude of devoted friends. He was a resident of The Terrace nursing home in Jacksonville, Florida at the time of his death due to natural causes.
Bernie grew up on Florence Avenue in West Philadelphia. He graduated from high school and later attended the University of Maryland and Temple University, where he obtained an advanced degree in psychology. He began his career as a psychologist working primarily in psychological sessions at a maximum security prison, Eastern State Penitentiary, in Pennsylvania. For three years he counseled inmates in group therapy sessions as well as on an individual level. It was through this experience and his subsequent promotions that he was enabled to become a licensed psychologist upon his departure from prison therapy in 1969.
Bernie retired in 1998 which is when he began to write his recollections of the intense experiences he encountered in prison over 30 years earlier in his book titled Prison Manifesto: Recollections of a Queer Psychologist Working In A Maximum Security Prison. It was through his experiences that he was able to forward an insider's view into the daily prison lives of inmates as well as staff who often provided him with many interesting challenges. His personal challenges were also increased as this was the period in time when Bernie was coming out as a gay young man.
Bernie was an atheist but possessed an avid interest in Far East religion and culture. He was known to have a mercurial personality and a temper that sometimes flared, but like his numerous furry friends which he loved dearly, he had the heart of a pussy cat. He cherished his close friends and relatives, with whom is stayed in constant contact until the very end when he was no longer able to speak.
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Oh no. So sorry to hear of Bernie Mazie's passing. He was a wonderful person. It was always a pleasure when I would run into him in Center City. Invariably, he would put you in a good mood if you were feeling down. I shall miss him very much. RIP