David Charles Bertocci

August 17, 1949 – August 12, 2026

Alexandria, Virginia – Dave Bertocci, age 76, passed away peacefully at home on August 12, 2026, after a long, courageous, and deeply dignified journey with ALS. Throughout his illness, Dave faced every challenge with immense bravery, grace, and an unwavering hope that inspired those around him.

Born on August 17, 1949 in Boston, Massachusetts to Salvatore Theodore Bertocci and Margaret True Allen Bertocci, Dave grew up in Bath, Maine with a love for carpentry, sports of all types, card games, and the Beatles. He went on to earn a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maine, Orono in 1969 and joined the Peace Corps in that same year, serving as part of the second cohort of volunteers to deploy to Lesotho, Southern Africa, after its independence. The Lesotho II cohort was critical in building the infrastructure of the newly independent country particularly in public works, engineering, and expanding rural secondary school education.

Dave met his wife of fifty four years, Ntoetse Mary Moshoeshoe, during his time there. Decades later, Dave utilized his deep ties to the Lesotho II cohort to help unite fellow early-generation volunteers. He was a founding member of the Friends of Lesotho (FOL) a non-profit organization which formalized an official network to raise funds for scholarships, orphan care, and community health initiatives across Lesotho. He remained a lifelong advocate for and donor to Basotho humanitarian initiatives. His Peace Corps service continued from 1970 - 1973 in Kenya, East Africa, as a Hydraulic Assistant and Assistant Resident Engineer working on the design and construction of a 10 square mile water supply system and realignment construction of a 42 kilometer mountain road.

Returning to the United States, Dave and Ntoetse settled in Washington, DC continuing his engineering as a Field and Office Engineer with J.F Shea CO, Inc, tunneling specialists, building the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit System. He went on to serve as Senior Construction Engineer with Bechtel Contractors Corporation; and Superintendent for Spencer, White & Prentis, Inc, A.S. McGaughan CO Inc, HITT Contracting Inc, Gillford Construction, Forrester Construction, and Manhattan Construction. Dave’s dedication to quality design, oversight, and implementation made him well known for being a “good builder.” A highlight for him was working on renovations within old buildings like Ford's Theatre, the National Gallery of Art, and the Virginia Theological Seminary. Retiring as a Senior Superintendent in 2022, Dave planned, coordinated, and supervised craft employees and trade contractors to ensure that each project was constructed in a safe and organized manner that was in harmony with design, budget, schedule, and quality. The wealth of expertise he developed professionally in these areas carried over into his personal life.

Dave loved to get to know everyone around him. He was curious, welcoming, kind, and dogged in his intellectual analysis of every aspect of life. The way he did one thing was the way he did all things, as thoroughly as possible. He told stories about the many hours of his childhood spent at his father’s side picking up bent nails along with his brothers in the cellar workshop and straightening them so that they could be used again. This was a rite of passage to full apprenticeship in his father’s shop: a child’s first Maxwell House coffee can full of bent nails to straighten for reuse, a task that taught the use of the most basic of hand tools, the hammer. Safety was incredibly important to him, from the professional standards he followed and certifications earned and logged throughout his career to making sure any safety measures that could be taken for those he loved were done. He loved traveling both abroad and nationally, meals and reunions with family and friends, playing cribbage, the beach, the ocean, the clean crisp Maine air, and doing anything with Ntoetse by his side.

Dave and Ntoetse retired in Topsham, Maine in the summer of 2022 and spent four years enjoying life, traveling around the state, attending Bluegrass festivals, eating lots of seafood, supporting the local arts community, and being active members of People Plus! a senior community in Brunswick, Maine where he played cribbage, helped set up, cook and serve the Men’s Breakfast monthly in addition to participating in other events.

Dave is survived by his wife, Ntoetse M. Bertocci; son Matthew T. Bertocci, daughter Teboho K. Bertocci and her fiancé “Unikue” Shawn T. Jefferson, grandchildren Thomas and Elijah Riley of Alexandria, VA; brother Andrew G. Bertocci and his wife Jeanie Barnard, and niece Margaret T. Bertocci of Yarmouth, ME; sister-in-law Cynthia S. Bertocci, niece Elena S. Bertocci, grand-nephews Mallku Sermeno Bertocci and Gael Sermeno Bertocci, and nephew Philip S. Bertocci and his wife Marina Majkic of Thomaston, ME; sister-in-law Likenkeng Sargaunt, brother-in-law David Sargaunt and niece Michelle Sargaunt of Lymington, England, and a large and incredibly loving extended family, especially all his Allen/Bertocci cousins. Dave was preceded in death by his elder brother, Thomas Bertocci. He said that “Tom cemented the ideals of Father and Mother within me and has strengthened my life. Watching Tom, I could observe the things we were taught being practiced, or not, and learn from the outcome. Commitment to school work and thorough preparation for learning. Commitment to a chosen sport, even if you were not a star. Commitment to friends, including them even when they were not part of the “A” team, because it was the right thing to do. Commitment to new ideas not in the mainstream of current majority acceptance. Commitment to community.” Dave embodied these ideals too and has strengthened his family and friends with his generosity, love, and attention to each and every one of us.

A celebration of Dave’s life will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at People Plus! 35 Union Street, Brunswick, ME. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to all the doctors and nurses working at Maine Health, especially Dr. Jacques Reynolds as well as the doctors and nurses at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the nurses and care team at Heartland Hospice for their tender care and support during this long journey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to People Plus! in his honor, https://peopleplusmaine.org/support-us, 207-729-0757.