Obituary of Mario J. Bertolini

Mario J. Bertolini, 79, Of Old Lyme, CT and Eastham, MA, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, February 7, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Mario was born on December 27, 1934 in New Haven, CT, the eldest son of the late Rody and Mary (Pezze) Bertolini of East Haven. He attended the University of Connecticut where he played varsity football and earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1958. That same year, he was hired by C.W. Blakeslee and Sons Inc. in Hamden, CT, where he was employed until 1976. At that time, he founded Blakeslee Prestress Inc. in Branford, CT, where he was president and CEO until the time of his death. Throughout his career, he was actively involved and highly influential in the Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), the industry's national professional organization. He was a PCI fellow, served as chairman and received multiple prestigious awards including Titan of the Industry and PCI's highest accolade, the Medal of Honor. He also donated his time as a trustee on the board of the Ironworkers Local 15 and 424 Pension Plan for many years. Mario was a nature lover and an avid fly fisherman who traveled all over the world from the salt flats of Belize to the rivers of Wyoming in pursuit of the perfect catch. He loved football, golf, Bridge and spending time with his large family. Mario is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Maryjane (Carter); his children, John Bertolini and his wife Beth of Basking Ridge, NJ, Maura Kufs and her husband Bill of Gansevoort, NY, Jennifer Hallowell and her husband Shawn of Old Saybrook, CT, Mary Griffin and her husband Neil of Glastonbury, CT, Peter Bertolini and his wife Sarah of Guilford, CT; his cherished grandchildren, Paul, Matthew, Anna, Delilah, Cassidy, Chloe and Evelyn. He also leaves his brother, Rody Bertolini of Madison, CT, his sister, Carol Giaquinto of East Haven, CT and a very dear uncle, John Bertolini Jr. of Hamden, CT. Visitation will be held on Thursday February 13th from 5-7PM at the Robinson, Wright, & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St, Centerbrook. Services will be on Friday February 14th at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 2 Ferry Rd. at 11AM. Interment will be private at Duck River Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Lyme Youth Service Bureau, P.O. Box 589, Old Lyme, CT 06371. To share a memory of Mario or send a condolence to his family, please visit www.rwwfh.com.