He was a Cieszyn merchant from an old Cieszyn family, born in 1849. For almost the whole of his life he ran a large general store in Cieszyn. He was also active in the community, initially supporting the Polish nationalistic movement, and then working with the German camp. During the years 1882-1910 he was elected to the Town Council several times, and from 1894 was a member of the Executive Board. He sat on many council committees, and was responsible for the town’s social services. In 1910 he retired from professional activities and moved to Vienna, where he died in 1914.
       Probably conscious of Bernatzik’s intention to retire from public service, the Town Council conferred honorary citizenship on him at a meeting on 15 December 1909 on the proposal of Councillor Dr Hinterstoisser. He was awarded the honour in recognition of his long years of service for the town, in particular for his supervision of the town’s old people’s home, the orphanage and in aid of Cieszyn’s poor.