Portage, PA - It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our Bern. A husband, father, pappy, brother, uncle, and friend. A fisherman, hunter, guitarist, weatherman, painter, science guy—"The Wizard"—teacher, and coach. A gentle giant with unbelievable patience. His ability to listen quietly and be present was uncanny. He treated everyone the same, with quiet respect—no one was ever less than in his eyes. His calm demeanor and genuine smile brought reassurance in almost any circumstance. He had a natural talent for just about everything. As a young man, he held several local records—though you wouldn't have heard it from him. His mother would find trophies tucked away at the bottom of his duffle bag. One of his football coaches called him a "silent producer." He simply showed up and delivered—no hype, no bragging, no boasting. As a teenager, he spent hours with headphones on, listening closely to songs and teaching himself the chords. In the 1980s, he played in bands, The Tickets and The Third Rail. Watching him play guitar was something special. Among his lesser-known hobbies, he enjoyed painting—and to no surprise of those who loved him, he was good at it. His love for the outdoors was unmatched. While at Penn State, he would stand for hours in the same fishing hole at Fisherman's Paradise, experimenting with different lures and techniques. That passion never faded. He taught science at Bishop Guilfoyle and later at Portage. Former students will remember his laid-back style—he rarely raised his voice, but he always made an impact. Over the years, he also coached football, softball, and golf. In retirement, he did what he loved most—he fished. And fished. And fished. He traveled with family and friends, casting lines in the rivers of Utah, Wyoming, Arkansas, Idaho, Colorado, California, and Montana. In 2022, he became Pappy Bern with the birth of his grandson, Jack—affectionately known as Jacky Boy. The following year, his granddaughter Estella arrived, lovingly nicknamed Sis-ki. He was, after all, a man of nicknames—some legal names we may never know. Bern is survived by his loving wife, Renee Gorba (Smith); his daughters, Rebecca Gorba (Sean McCauley) and Lydia Gorba (Matthew Brumbaugh); and his cherished grandchildren, Jack Brumbaugh and Estella Brumbaugh. He is also survived by his sister, Gwen Gorba (Thomas Porreca); his brother, Walter Gorba (Kristen Gorba) and his nephew and nieces, Colton Porreca, Sunny Gorba, and Mallory Gorba. He was preceded in death by his parents, Judith and Amie Gorba. To know Bern was to love him. He fought hard to stay with us—to see his girls get married, to meet his grandbabies. He did that and more, and for that, we are forever grateful. He will be dearly, dearly missed. Services will be held at Matthew R. Decort Funeral Home on Friday, May 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. In honor of his love of music, we suggest that you wear your favorite band tee in lieu of formal attire. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Traditional Anglers of Pennsylvania: https://www.tap-pa.org/ or the Crichton McCormick Park: https://portagetwp.com/crichton-mccormick-park/.