Obituary of Bernard G. Vient

Bernard G. Vient passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday morning, August 17, 2019. He was 85 years old. Bernard was born in Saugus and was the youngest of five children of Louis and Clara Vient.  He grew up in Saugus and was a graduate of Saugus High School.  He went on to earn both his Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degrees in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University.  He started his career as an engineer at Sylvania while still in college. He then worked for 37 years at Alpha Industries and ended his career at Lockheed- Sanders.  Barney specialized in the design of microwave switches used in the defense industry and was proud to have earned a patent for one of his designs. He was also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 

Barney simply enjoyed being home with his family.  He spent hours working around his yard.  He designed, installed, and maintained rock gardens complete with ferns, wild flowers, fountain, and fish pond.  He approached everything with an engineer’s perspective.  He created plans, schematics, and spreadsheets detailing his home’s inner workings.  He knew where every pipe, wire, and stud were located. He could fix most anything as well.  He and his wife were members of the Burlington Historical Society. Barney loved being outdoors.  He hiked, canoed, and spent many family vacations in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. After retirement, he enjoyed various trips both in the U.S. and to other countries. He was a parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church since moving to Burlington in 1962. Barney was quietly yet actively involved in all his family’s affairs. He was always encouraging, and delighted in hearing about and sharing in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren. Barney had a love of music and an ability to whistle almost any tune. He will be remembered for his kindness, honesty, sense of humor, and gentle positive attitude.

Barney was the beloved husband of 57 years of Margaret V. (George) Vient. He was the loving father of John Vient & his wife Catherine, Robert Vient & his wife Genilza, Jean Lux & her husband Norman, Andrea Vient, and Janice Martineau & her husband Joseph. He was predeceased by his siblings; Frances Statuto, Louis Vient, Claire Vatcher, and Marilyn Boner. He was the proud grandfather of Evan, Corinne, Lucas, Lisa & Laura Vient, Keira, Nathan, & Emily Lux, Alex, Aimee, & Michael Gonsalves, and Ethan, Andrew, Matthew, and Colin Martineau. Barney was also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Tuesday, August 20 from 4-8 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Bernard’s name may be made to Heartbeat Pregnancy Help Center, PO Box 153 Burlington, MA 01803. For directions obituary & online guestbook see www.stmargaretburlington.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net