OSWEGO, NY – Bartholomew (Bart) Reitano, 80, a resident of West Fifth Street, Oswego, passed away Monday February 25, 2013, at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.
He was born in Quattropani, Providence of Messina, Lipari, Italy. He was the son of the late Francesco and Maria C. (Natoli) Reitano.
As a child, he helped at his family farm attending sheep and animals. They also harvested grapes and sold their own wine.
Bart graduated high school in Italy and came to America at the age of 20 (January 20, 1953).
For two summers he farmed with his uncles, and then came to Oswego, working for Castaldo Construction where he worked as a mason.
He later owned and operated Bart Reitano and Son Masonry for 10 years before working for and retiring from Niagara Mohawk in 1996.
His legacy known in Oswego County originated from Italy where he received his apprenticeship and masonry trade.
He loved his vegetable garden, which he kept immaculate, and his fruit trees, especially the fig trees that he brought over from Italy.
He enjoyed playing the accordion.
Bart served on the St. Mary’s Parish Council and was also an usher.
He loved spending time with his family and grandchildren, including his furry ones Amber, Grizabella and Genesis.
Surviving are his wife, Roberta (Saylor); daughter, Ginny (Brian Hamel) Reitano of Ithaca; son, Francis “Bart” (Amanda) Reitano of Kannapolis, NC; brother, Felice (Carolyn) Reitano of Oswego; two sisters, Annette (Tony) Natoli of Oswego and Maria Zinter of Rochester; four grandchildren, Evelyn Grace, Isabella Marie, Cole Steven and Mason Bart; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Church.
Entombment will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery, All-Saints Mausoleum.
Calling hours will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Nelson Funeral Home, 11 W. Albany St., Oswego.
Online condolences may be made at www.nelson-funeralhome.com
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So sorry to hear of Bart passing — our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Although I only met your brother a few times, Phil (and Carolyn), I am so sorry to hear of your loss. One of the devastations of aging has got to be being the ones left behind.
I’m sorry you won’t have your brother with you to share the laughs over the coming years. I hope you stockpiled a LOT of memories (I suspect you did), to bring to the younger members of your family who may not know him.
God bless you in your time of sorrow.
If Ginny is the same Ginny from my daughter’s second grade, please accept my condolences, too!
Debbie (and Ray) Engelke