C.M. Bertone

C.M. “Bert” Bertone, born July 12, 1930; died Feb. 25, 2013.

Born in Jersey City, N.J., Bert was the youngest son of Anthony Dominic and Dellora (Silvestri) Bertone. He graduated from Seton Hall University prior to serving in the National Guard. Following, he earned his Ph.D. in psychology from Los Angeles University.

For 35 years, Dr. Bertone worked as a research psychologist, manager, senior social scientist and training specialist for a number of aerospace companies including the Rand Corporation, Federal Aviation Agency, Sikorsky Aircraft, and McDonnell Douglas.

In 1986, he moved to Fountain Hills. While a resident there, he served as a member of the Road District for a number of years.

Throughout his professional career, Bert conducted training programs for Native American tribes across the country and later worked with Choctaw Nation Indian Health Services.

He published more than 50 professional articles, a nonfiction book entitled Soviet Psychology, and two fiction novels. Bert was a talented artist, jewelry designer and photographer.

In 1994, he moved to Oklahoma where he taught at Northeastern State University and Connors State College.

While Bert returned to Fountain Hills for book signing events and visits for many years, he was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy in 2007. Similar to Parkinson’s disease and ALS, this rare and most debilitating illness slowly limited his movement and restricted his freedom.

While it crippled his body, it never dampened his encouraging spirit or his love for his family.

Bert is survived by his wife, Diane, of Farmington, Ark.; his children, Kathleen Kellogg (Len) of Littleton, Colo., Victoria Caltabiano (David) of Fountain Hills, Jennifer Lee (David) of Salem, Conn., Christopher Bertone of Payson, and Amanda Norman (Shawn) of Oklahoma City, Okla.

He will be deeply missed by his 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.