NICHOLAS M. BERTONE

BERTONE, Nicholas M. Of Norwell, and also of Palm Harbor and Dunedin, FL, died peacefully on February 5th, 2012, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with Acute Leukemia. He was 78 years old. He was born in Santa Maria Del Molise, Campobasso, Italy, in 1933, to the late Elisabetta (Taddeo) Bertone and Antonio Bertone. He moved to the United States at the age of 7, and settled with his family in Quincy. He was educated in the Quincy school system, and it was here where he developed his artistic skills. As a young boy who spoke no English, he spent a good deal of time in school drawing and sketching. These skills would stay with him throughout his life. At an early age, it was evident Nick was mechanically inclined, and he developed a keen interest in automobiles. As a young teenager, he began building and racing his own stock cars. In his early 20's he opened his first car dealership at Lovell's Corner in Weymouth, and spent the remainder of his career partnered with his son, John, at Hanover Autoworks in Hanover. However, his true passion was thoroughbred horses, and he purchased his first thoroughbred in 1963. He was a member of the Massachusetts Horsemen's Association, The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association. He trained and raced thoroughbred horses both locally at Suffolk Downs and other tracks across New England and the United States under his own stable name, Clover B Stable, located at his Norwell family property. At one point in time, there were over 16 horses at Clover B Stable, including thoroughbreds, riding horses for his daughters, and other animals and family pets for his son - there was never a shortage of pets for the Bertone family. However, he took the greatest pride in his accomplishments as a thoroughbred horse breeder. He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him, and of course, his entire family. The beloved husband of 60 years to Kathryn (Kirby) Bertone, loving father of Maureen Bertone of Norwell, John Bertone and his wife, Jodi Busca-Bertone of Norwell and the late Elizabeth (Bettyann) Bertone Saucier of Dunedin, FL. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Jonathan Howlett (30) of Boston, Christopher Saucier (21) of Rockland, and Brennan Murphy (16) of Norwell, as well as a sister, Angela Owens, of Weymouth. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations in Nick's memory may be sent to The Carmelite Monastery, 61 Mt. Pleasant Ave, Boston, MA 02119. www.carmelitesofboston.org. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the wonderful staff at the Renaissance Gardens Rehabilitation Center at Linden Ponds in Hingham, for their warm, kind, thoughtful and loving care. Private arrangements made by the Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington Street, HANOVER, MA. For online guestbook, visit SullivanFuneralHomes.com 781-878-0920 781-293-2020 Family Owned & Operated Since 1897