Bernard A. Cervizzi

Bernard A. Cervizzi, Jr. 86, of Acton, died on Friday, August 31, 2012 at the Greenwood Center in Sanford. Mr. Cervizzi was born the youngest of nine children on June 8, 1926 to Italian immigrants Bernard Angelo and Maria (Peroni) Cervizzi and was raised in East Boston, Massachusetts. In 1942 Mr. Cervizzi finished high school and enlisted in the United States Navy. His overseas tours included such places as Australia and New Guinea. After his discharge from the navy, he studied music at the Schlinger House of Music in Boston and eventually began touring up and down the eastern seaboard. He was an accomplished musician, playing both the clarinet and the saxophone. He formed his own band known as "The Ben Claire Orchestra" which played swing and big band favorites of the time. Mr. Cervizzi also attended the New England Conservatory for a time before he decided to leave the world of entertaining behind.In 1953 he met and married the former Elizabeth (Betty) Wright after a brief courtship. The couple spent the next 59 years together. They resided in Revere, Massachusetts until tragedy struck. The family lost their home in a fire which claimed the life of their youngest son. The couple then moved their young family to Cape Coral, Florida and started anew. They opened Cervizzi's bakery which at the time was the only Italian style bakery of its kind. In 1964 Mr. Cervizzi and his family returned to the Boston area where he worked several state and federal jobs. He was employed as a toll collector for the Massachusetts Turnpike for a time before going to work as a mail handler for the United States Postal Service. He worked at the airmail facility located at Logan International airport in Boston until he transferred to the south postal annex in Boston's South End a few years before he retired.The Cervizzi's were long time summer residents at Loon Pond in Acton until 1990 when they retired and moved to Maine. Initially Mr. Cervizzi did volunteer work, driving for Meals on Wheels, Southern Maine Agency on Aging. Within a few years he went to work for the Sanford School Department as a bus monitor. He later became a bus driver for developmentally delayed and emotionally challenged children.In the late 1990's Mr. Cervizzi was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He received his cancer treatment at Wentworth Douglas Hospital in Dover, New Hampshire. A cancer survivor, Mr. Cervizzi would retire completely and enjoy life on Loon Pond before undergoing triple bypass surgery in the fall of 2006.Mr. Cervizzi is predeceased by his son David Andrew Cervizzi; his great granddaughter Bella Elizabeth Cervizzi, his siblings, Pasquale of Winthrop, MA, Dominic of Winchester, MA, Anna Yanelli of Roslindale, MA, Vincent of Revere, MA, Helen D'Addario of East Boston, MA, Victor of Ormand Beach. FL and Marie Caroline Cervizzi.Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth of Acton, ME; two children, Bernard J. and his wife Sharon of San Diego, CA and Lorraine of Acton, ME; two grandchildren, Sarah Cervizzi of Vacaville, CA and David Cervizzi and his wife Cynthia of Bonaire, GA; his great grandson, Anthony; the mother of his grandchildren, Rachel Cervizzi of Vacaville, CA; his loving sister, Carol Hyland of Webster, MA and numerous nieces and nephews.Funeral prayers will take place at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 10th at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale, ME. Interment with military honors will follow at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery located on Stanley Road in Springvale.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Wentworth Homecare and Hospice, c/o Wentworth-Douglass Hospital & Health Foundation, 789 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 03820.To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.