By Julie Huss
DERRY —Wilfred Bernier had many claims to fame in his years spent in Derry. Many remembered him as the town's first television repair ma,n and others appreciated his wry wit and humorous conversation.
Bernier also had another claim to Derry fame as the holder of the prestigious Boston Post Cane, honoring him as the town's oldest resident. Bernier, 97, passed away on June 15.
The cane was given to people in New England towns as a way to honor the longevity of residents, originally given to only men, and then in later years, to the elder women.
In September 1909, Derry Selectmen received their first Post Cane and 92-year-old Patrick Gillespie became the first recipient.
Bernier received the Boston Post Cane in 2003 and became part of a long, rich line of notable residents who were named cane-worthy for being the oldest resident in town. Bernier's mother, Marie Louise Bernier, held the cane for five years before she died in 1887 at the age of 103.
With Bernier's passing, the Derry Heritage Commission must now seek to find the next cane recipient and oldest person in town.
"We will wait a respectable couple of months," town historian and Heritage Commission chair Richard Holmes said, adding Bernier will be missed and so will his energy and humor.
"He was an excellent conversationalist and I have enjoyed his wry humor for well over a half century," Holmes said. "And he was still mowing his lawn [up until recently]."
As part of the Post Cane process, individuals must be residents of Derry for at least five years. Once the individual is recognized as cane holder, he or she retains the honor until death or the person moves out of town.
Most towns no longer give out an original cane, Holmes said, but instead the honoree receives a replica cane. Original canes are often kept safe and secure in a case in a town buliding like the library, town hall, or museum. Derry keeps its original cane in a display case in the foyer of the town municipal center.
