Richard J Bertotti

Richard John “Dick” Bertotti, 93, was born in Wilmington, DE, to the late Damiano “Dan” and Lena (Fornaro) Bertotti. He grew up in Pennsville, NJ, and spent a lot of time assisting in his parents’ grocery store and playing on the Delaware River. He made his parents proud, being the first in the family to earn a college degree, a BS in Chemistry from the University of Virginia.

After serving two years in the Navy, Dick was transferred to Tennessee with Dupont and later became engaged to Hilda, he took marriage instructions from a priest at Saint Joseph’s Church in Madison, and the relationship with Saint Joseph’s Church and school began. After their marriage in1961, Hilda attended Saint Joseph’s church, where the first several children were baptized and went to Sunday school. They were founding members of Our Lady of the Lake, but the kids attended Saint Joseph school in Madison. Dick was asked to be on the school board, help paint school rooms, be involved in fundraisers, loan science equipment, judge science fairs, and drive carpools.

Dick was good at fixing things; assembling and modifying furniture and swing sets; tinkering with the boat and boat dock; and building simple objects, like tool benches, a toy chest, and Christmas decorations. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, boating and water-skiing or watching a Philadelphia Phillies game. With humble pride, he wore the ring from bowling his perfect 300 game and displayed the plaque from his hole-in-one in golf.

Mr. Bertotti didn’t know what he was getting into when he got married! Who would have thought that a member of the “Bachelors Club“ at Penns Grove High School would end up as a father to 10 children! He spent a lot of his time raising children, playing golf with them, attending sporting events, such as basketball, baseball, and softball, and, of course, running from field to field to watch multiple soccer games on Saturdays, stepping in as an assistant soccer coach when needed, and supporting all kinds of school activities and Girl Scouts. He was the Saturday morning chef (French toast, pancakes, omelettes, cream dried beef), weekend grillmaster (legendary mustard steak!!!), and cherry pie connoisseur. His love of family extended to his grandchildren with sleepovers to look at stars through the telescope or golf and swim lessons at Old Hickory Country Club, and his house was full of the kids’ friends that called him “Mr. B” or “Papa B.”

Dick had a sharp mind and a quick wit, ripe with Dad jokes and puns, a trait he passed on to several sons and grandchildren. Although he was a son of Italian immigrants, he only knew a few Italian words, including three the family heard a lot: testa dura (hard-head) and mangia e stai zitta (shut up and eat!) And, of course, morning singing in Italian to wake up the kids “L’aurora di bianco vestita…”

Although Dick’s declining mind and body were challenging, family members were with him in his final days, and he left this world in a peaceful sleep. “Arrivederci”, Dick.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Hilda Casanave Bertotti, his parents, and his sister Gloria (Mike) Wetzel. He is survived by his ten children: John (Dawn) Bertotti, Babs (Mike) Rector, Sue (Fran) Varboncoeur, Mary (Darin) Littrell, Carol Bertotti, Patty (John) Lane, Danny (Robin) Bertotti, Mike (Katie) Bertotti, Jamie (Michelle) Bertotti, Bobby (Kendra) Bertotti; fourteen grandchildren: Alex Varboncoeur, Ashley (Fletcher) Griffitts, Mackenzie (Thomas) Cocke, Timothy Littrell (fiancé Sabrina), Madison Lane, Morgan Lane, Bryce Bertotti, Taylor Bertotti, Ryan Bertotti, Justin Varboncoeur, Sydney Bertotti, Myles Bertotti, Nora Bertotti, Charlie Bertotti; and Hilda’s relatives: cousins Jack Holland and Ann (Andy) Slodysko; nephews Nick (Barb) Dixon, Steve (Rose) Dixon, Rich (Carol) Dixon, John Casanave, Eric (Jen) Casanave; and great-nieces and nephews.