Shad T. Bernard

BERNARD, Shad Theodore, age 49, of Dayton, was called to his heavenly home on October 30, 2024 with his wife and a close friend by his side. He was born on March 12, 1975 in Hays, KS to Larry Bernard and Jenny (Snyder) Prichard. Shad is preceded in death by his father, Larry Bernard, and grandparents Marlin Bernard, James Snyder, and Marietta (Snyder) Coats. Shad is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Amy; daughters: Abigail (Abby) and Meghan of Dayton, OH; mother Jenny (Bill) Prichard of Topeka, KS; 2 brothers: Shay (Andrea) Bernard of Overland Park, KS; Shon (Renee) Bernard of Lewisburg, WV; stepmother: Julie Bernard of Russell, KS; grandparent: Pat Bernard of Osborne, KS; father and mother-in-law: Ralph and Theresa Hall of Virgie, KY; in-laws Chad (Michelle) Hall of Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX; and Erin (Ben) Kelley of Taylorsville, KY; 8 nieces and nephews: Ava, Ema, Ila, Coy, Jett, Georgia, Emmy and Liam. 

Shad graduated from Osborne High School, Osborne, KS in 1993. There, he was a multisport athlete competing in football, golf, and wrestling. He completed his Associates Degree in Athletic Training at Barton County Community College in 1995 and Bachelor of Science Degree in Health & Physical Education from Charleston Southern University in 1997. Later, he completed his Masters Degree from Morehead State University in Sports Administration & Marketing in 1998. Shad began his career as an athletic trainer with the Dayton Sports Medicine Institute in 1999 and provided athletic healthcare services to student athletes at Eaton High School. In 2006, he became the Manager of Sports Medicine at Good Samaritan Hospital & Premier Health. During his 18 year career at Premier Health, he oversaw many different operations of sports medicine services and also assisted with numerous committees such as: Future Leaders, the Heart Institute Of Dayton, Premier Health Diversity Committee, and the United Way Workplace Campaign. He also spent 13 years with Nike Elite Basketball, providing sports medicine services to numerous camps and events across the country. Shad spent time over the past 2 years with BEST Security, providing crowd management and security services for the Cincinnati Bengals, FC Cincinnati, the concert venue at Hard Rock Cafe, and events held at Paycor Stadium. Shad also spent much time in dugouts and on sidelines with the University of Dayton Athletics, providing athletic training services to Dayton Flyers. His work with the University of Dayton was pivotal at the height of the pandemic, as he oversaw operations for COVID testing for all athletics at UD. His work earned him the R.U.D.Y.S. Unsung Hero Award in 2022, held by the University of Dayton Athletics Department.

Shad was a member of the West Carrollton Church of Christ and was baptized on Sunday, August 11, 2024. He was devoted to his faith in Our Lord and Jesus Christ until his last moments on earth.

‘Generous’ was a defining characteristic that Shad was known for. He deeply loved Amy and moved heaven and earth to support his family in all ways necessary. Shad was a true ‘girl dad’ and relished any opportunity that came about to support his daughters in their dreams and extracurricular activities. An avid sports fan, he cheered for the Chicago Cubs, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Kansas Jayhawks, and Kansas City Chiefs. There was no distance that he would not cover to make another’s world a bit easier to manage. Shad will forever be remembered as a devoted husband, dedicated father, loyal son, loving brother, and the ‘funcle’. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 7:00 p.m at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Road, Kettering, OH 45429, with the family present to greet friends from 4:00 p.m. until the time of service. The service will be conducted by Mike Grushon and Jeremy Bard. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the Boesch Lounge at University of Dayton Arena, 1801 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Dayton, OH 45417. A private scattering of ashes will follow at a later date. Please feel free to wear any sports related gear or other items that you feel would honor and represent Shad. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a fund that has been set aside to assist with college education expenses for Shad and Amy’s daughters, Abby and Meghan. Contributions can be mailed to: Bernard Girls College Fund, 4328 Napa Valley Dr, Bellbrook, OH 45305. Or, if preferred, we invite friends, family, and community members to commemorate Shad’s legacy by contributing to the Shad Bernard Leadership Fund. Together, we can ensure Shad’s light continues to shine, fostering a future that reflects the compassion, courage, and dedication he embodied.

 For those interested in contributing or learning more about the fund’s mission, please visit Good Samaritan Foundation or GSFoundation@PremierHealth.com.