Frank and Clara originally named their son Kenneth and this is the name that appears on his birth certificate. But when he was christened his parents were told he would need a saint's name and Bernard was chosen in honor of Frank's father. Bernie did not legally change his name until shortly before his death. While planning for his retirement he was told that in order to collect the Social Security benefits he had accumulated under his "assumed" name of Bernard Kenneth Hackett, he would need to make his name change legal.
Bernie learned how to drive at age 14 by parking cars at his father's garage in New Haven. Bernie was a life-long employee of Thompson Hacksaw Company in New Haven where he was a Saw Setter. He was an avid duckpin bowler and had numerous trophies from big regional tournament wins and was a proud Member of the 200 Club as a player on the Thompson's team in the Industrial League of the YMCA. In 1952, he won the title of New England Champion and a jackpot of $500. Bernie also played softball as a young man and enjoyed smoking cigars and doing jigsaw puzzles in his later years.