Bernard Charles Reardon

Bernard Charles Reardon, 91, passed away peacefully in the loving care of his children at
his home in Mount Holly, NC, November 28, 2025.

He was born on October 2, 1934 in Cork, Ireland to the late John Michael Reardon and Elizabeth Mary Reardon (née Slowey).

He attended the all-Irish language Model School in Cork, acquiring a lifelong love of Irish culture, particularly music. After earning his Bachelors degree in Engineering at University College, Cork, he was awarded a post graduate scholarship to the prestigious California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. While achieving his M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at CalTech, he met the love of his life, Iliana. They married in Pasadena in December 1965. Bernard brought his young wife to live in Ireland where he was lecturing at University College, Cork and they started their family, moving soon to Dublin where he began a 30-year career as lecturer in Electrical Engineering (and later Computer Science) at University College, Dublin. He was a gifted, considerate and popular member of the faculty and was known for conducting groundbreaking research in computer graphics and image processing (including a detailed analysis of satellite imagery of Irish lakes).

He and Iliana raised their family and lived their faith each day in their parish and their community of Mount Merrion, advocating for the sanctity of life, and the protection of marriage and the family for many years. He was an active member of the Mount Merrion Residents Association and enjoyed playing tennis in their local park. He took particular pleasure in bringing his family on visits to California and on camping trips in continental Europe, the U.K. and Ireland.

Sometime after retirement, Bernard and Iliana moved to North Carolina in 2016 to be with their two children, Thérèse and Laurence. He enjoyed listening to classical and Irish music, reading (especially science fiction), pursuing his lifelong interest in astronomy (with the aid of his telescope that he had brought from Ireland) and spending time in the company of his beloved family.

After Iliana’s death in 2021, he suffered some health challenges and was ultimately confined to bed, but he remained engaged in the lives of his children, celebrating birthdays and other holidays with them in his Mount Holly home. His faith was of central importance to him throughout his life and, although he was no longer able to attend Mass in person, he watched EWTN Mass regularly on his tablet.

In addition to his children who moved in with him in recent years, he was cared for by his
Home Instead caregivers for many years. The family wishes to express their special appreciation and thanks to Abby, Michelle, Teresa, Gloria, Renee and all who loved and cared for him in his most vulnerable years. Special thanks also to Sundae Dowdle of Home Instead for her kind support over the years.

Thanks also to all who provided medical and therapeutic care to Bernard through the
years and to the staff at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Belmont for their care of Bernard in his last illness. He is already greatly missed by his beloved and adoring family, who nevertheless live in the hope of his joyous resurrection and of their happy meeting one day in heaven.

He is preceded in death by his dear wife, Iliana, his sister Mary, brother Brendan and their parents, and is survived by his daughter Thérèse, his son Laurence, his sisters-in-law Greta Marie Carlos, Colette Carlos, Grace Carlos, his cousin Ann Corcoran of Cork, Ireland and her family, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation, including the Rosary, will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Gastonia. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. The Rite of Committal will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Belmont.

Please pray for the happy repose of Bernard’s soul in the loving arms of Our Lord and His Blessed Mother. 

May He support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done! Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. (John Henry Cardinal Newman)

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.(Translation from Irish: May his faithful soul be at the right hand of God)