James Bertelli

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of James Howell Bertelli, age 82, of Moodus, CT. He passed away peacefully on May 1st at Chestelm Health & Rehabilitation Center in Moodus after a short illness. James was born on December 1, 1942 in Hartford, CT and was the eldest child of the late Louis Nathan Bertelli and the late Alice Irene (Howell) Bertelli of Chester, CT and Mt. Dora, FL.

James was affectionately known as Jim, Jimmy and “Jeep”. Jim lived his life with integrity and compassion. He grew up in Chester, CT and was a 1961 graduate of Valley Regional High School in Deep River, CT. He retired from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation after a long career as a skilled mechanic. One of Jim’s passions was working with anything mechanical. He could repair or fabricate parts needed to repair anything that required knowledge of mechanical engineering. He was always generous with his time and mechanical knowledge to help anyone. Growing up in Chester, Jim was one of many Chester residents involved in the 1956 Columbia Pictures movie, It Happened to Jane, filmed in Chester. Jim appeared as an extra in the film and he also rented his boat to Columbia Pictures for the scene filmed at Jennings Pond. For many years, Jim was a valued volunteer at the Middlesex County 4-H Camp in Moodus, CT. Jim was an avid outdoorsman. In his youth he enjoyed fishing, boating and camping with friends. In recent years he enjoyed feeding the deer that came to his Moodus home in the winter, as well as visiting the cows at his good friend’s farm, Roy and Sandy Hajek.

Jim is survived by his daughters, Kim Marie (Bertelli) Johnson and her husband Cory of Yorkville, WI and Lisa D. Bertelli of Wadsworth, IL; two grandsons, Jamie Johnson of Racine, WI and Bryce Johnson of Yorkville, WI. Jim also leaves his sister Frances M. Bertelli of Rocky Hill, CT, brother William L. Bertelli and wife Carol of Trent Woods, NC and Clinton, CT and brother Robert M. Bertelli and his wife Clea of Lake Placid, FL and Sunny Isles Beach, FL.

A Celebration of Life for Jim will be held at a later date.

Donations in Jim’s memory can be made to the Chester Hose Company, PO Box 214, Chester, CT 06412, the Chester Historical Society, PO Box 204, Chester, CT 06412 or to the charity of your choice.