A loving father, grandfather, and friend, George Ralph Bertrand died on June 19, 2020, at age 73.
He was born in Cherry Hill, N.J., and raised in Springfield. He moved his young family to Truro in 1975 and spent the rest of his life on the Outer Cape, most recently living close to family in Wellfleet.
George was a painting contractor, accomplished in hockey and golf, and a skillful skier. He loved the Outer Cape and recently rediscovered fishing and the natural beauty of the area.
Family was the center of George’s universe. He dearly loved his daughters, Shannon and Carli, and cherished the arrival of his only grandson, Liam. Every Sunday, Liam anxiously waited to see “Grandpa Doughnut,” a visit that was the highlight of George’s week. A week before he died, Liam and his grandfather spent time working in Shannon’s garden, one of their favorite places to be together.
George was charming and disarming and made friends wherever he went. He talked about his friends constantly, always in awe of their achievements, their golf skills, and their families. He maintained lifelong loyal friendships with his Springfield boys, Richie Gallivan, Phil Fyhr, and Mike O’Malley. And he enjoyed lasting relationships with people from his early years in Provincetown, later years in Orleans on Hopkins Lane, and finally in Wellfleet.
He was married once, to Rosanna Bertrand, and though they had been divorced for decades, Rosanna always made sure he was welcome at every single family gathering. Rosanna was the one true love of his life and his guardian angel.
George greeted people at Cumby’s and valued his fellow Cape Codders. The mail clerk in Eastham contacted Shannon to tell her that George was the one person he most enjoyed seeing.
In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s name may go to the Homeless Prevention Council of Cape Cod at hpccapecod.org.
