Bernard Machen, the father of UF President Bernie Machen, died in Gainesville Wednesday after a long illness. He was 94.
The late Machen was born in 1913 in Alabama. He graduated from Auburn University in 1940 and served in the U.S. Army for four years, according to his obituary, provided by the funeral home.
He married his wife, Eleanor, in 1943. They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in February.
Machen worked in chemical sales until he retired in 1978. He moved to Gainesville in 2004 and lived at Oak Hammock, a retirement community affiliated with UF.
E.T. York, chancellor emeritus of the State University System and a longtime friend of Machen's, said he saw him almost every day while they lived at Oak Hammock.
"We're (my wife and I) very fond of him and his wife," York said. "He was bedridden, so we didn't go out together, but we visited with him quite frequently."
York's wife, Vam, called Machen a "delightful Southern gentleman."
York met Machen about 30 years ago in Alabama, where he said they instantly bonded over love for their alma mater.
He said Machen's fondness for Auburn didn't wane when his son became UF's president.
President Machen declined to comment, writing in an e-mail that he wasn't ready yet to talk about his father's death.
Cindy Flowers, manager of Oak Hammock community relations who helped Machen move in three years ago, said he did keep some Gators memorabilia in his room, including the latest UF football and basketball schedules.
"He was a Gators fan unless Auburn was playing," Flowers said.
She said President Machen visited his father as often as he could - usually in the early morning or late evening because of his busy schedule.
Sometimes they watched sports on TV, especially golf, which Flowers said the elder Machen loved.
When the TV wasn't on, Flowers said Machen, who loved to sing, always played the same CD - a Gaither Quartet album his wife gave him. Flowers said Machen's wife told her that she now plays the CD all the time in her room at Oak Hammock.
Machen is survived by a daughter, two sons, a brother, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Flowers said Machen was close to his family and always proud of his children. He had a great sense of humor and keen insight into people because of his salesman days, she said.
"He'll be missed around here, that's for sure," Flowers said.
A memorial service will be held at Oak Hammock on Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. Machen's family requested that memorial contributions be made to Haven Hospice at 4200 NW 90th Blvd.
