BLOOMINGTON - Byron L. Bertagnolli, 65, formerly of Bloomington, residing in Hollywood Calif., died at 11:29 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 29, 2007) at his home.
A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Beck Memorial Home, Bloomington, with Pastor Dave Berry officiating. Private family interment will be at a later date in Funks Grove Cemetery, McLean. Visitation will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
He was born Oct. 15, 1942, in Benld, a son of Libero L. and Zora Pavichevich Bertagnolli.
Surviving are two sisters, Janet (Mike) Connelly, Normal, and Leslie (Ken Taube) Bertagnolli, Long Grove; and a nephew, Paul Connelly, Normal.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Byron was a research scientist for several universities, including the University of Illinois from which he retired in 1998. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1964 and received his master's and doctoral degrees from Illinois State University in 1973.
He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed fishing.
******************
The following was written by classmates for our 50th Reunion Booklet. Led by a dedicated team of local classmates, the project was titled:
"BHS CLASS OF '60 FOOTPRINTS"
******************
Byron sat behind me in math class at Washington Jr. High. We were all scared to death of strict Mr. Drew who had a rule that if anyone talked during a test, he/she would automatically get a zero. Well, Byron must not have been prepared one time and asked me for an answer when he thought our teacher wasn't looking. Mr. Drew was immediately at our desks! Goody-two-shoes that I was, I hadn't given Byron a reply and was allowed to finish the test, but Byron got his zero. He must have learned his lesson, as I read in my alumni news that he went on to get his doctorate not too many years ago.
(Barb Stumm)
I didn’t know Byron too well at BHS, but later, when we were both attending Illinois Wesleyan, I got to know him pretty well. He was a soft-spoken, humble, friendly guy. We had coffee together in the student union from time to time and yakked about lots of things. I found out what an excellent student
he was, especially in science and math. I admired him for it. In fact, looking back, I think he had a good influence on me, a mediocre student most of the time.
Byron had played football in high school (he certainly had the size for it) but not, to my surprise, at IWU. His heart was never in football; you could find it in a science lab, though.
Byronʼs father, Libero, was a well-regarded football coach at BHS and before that, at IWU. No doubt he was disappointed that Byron didn’t have more passion for the game. But I’m sure Dad was very proud later on when Byron earned his PhD in biology. RIP, big guy.
(Jim Bennett)