Local obituary: Louis Bertonazzi, 91, longtime state lawmaker from Milford

Retired Senator Louis P. Bertonazzi, 91, of Milford, Massachusetts passed away on May 18, 2025 surrounded by his loving family.

Louis was a lifelong resident of Milford. He was a graduate of Milford High School in 1951. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts in 1955 and a Masters degree from Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts in 1960. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Public Administration (Honoris Causa) from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts in 1993. Upon his graduation from Tufts University, he served in the U.S. Army for two years. Upon his discharge, he worked as a world language teacher, guidance counselor and director of guidance in the Medway school system, following which he was appointed Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services by Governor John Volpe. 

Prior to his service in the Massachusetts legislature, he was elected for five terms to the Milford Board of Selectmen, acting as its chairman for three. Louis was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for ten years, where he earned the distinction of becoming the first Chairman of the Committee on Health Care. He then served as a member of the Massachusetts Senate for seventeen years, having acted earlier as Post Audit and Oversight Committee, as Assistant Minority Whip and then as Majority Whip, before rising ultimately to the position of Senate Majority Leader. Upon his retirement from the Senate, he completed his state service as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As a member of the General Court, Louis authored major legislation for the Commonwealth which addressed health care cost containment, drunk driving reform, certification of emergency medical services, establishment of cancer registries, ambulance safety, public access to physician profiles and recodification of the dental practice act. 

Over the years, he received numerous honors and awards. He received the Distinguished Service Award and Key to the University from the Tufts University Alumni Association – its highest honor. And in an unprecedented tribute, the Central Massachusetts Emergency Systems Corporation dedicated and named in his honor the “Senator Louis P. Bertonazzi Center for Prehospital Care Training.” As Chairman of the Massachusetts Christopher Columbus Quincentennial Commission, he was instrumental in bringing the Tall Ships to Boston Harbor in 1992. This initiative earned him the Governor’s Leadership Award for Outstanding Contributions to Tourism, as well as the Presidential Award for Outstanding Contributions to Citizenship from the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Other awards include the “Man of the Year” by the St. Jude Society and the “I Migliori” Award presented by the Pirandello Lyceum of Massachusetts. He was also named Man of the Year by his neighborhood group, the Plains Association, and served as its Annual Reunion President for many years. Upon retirement, Louis returned to his roots in Milford and established the Senator Louis P. Bertonazzi Foundation. This Foundation presents annual awards in the areas of education, culture and citizenship to individuals in the communities he had represented in the legislature. This well received Foundation continues its work today.

He was survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Barbara (Szymanski) Bertonazzi, of Medway, Massachusetts. Theirs was a loving partnership encompassing their entire lives. Barbara and Louis are the proud parents of their son, Gregg Bertonazzi, of Uxbridge and Wellfleet, Massachusetts, their daughter, Lisa Bertonazzi-Valaouras and her husband, Thomas Valaouras, of Milford, Massachusetts, and their son, David Bertonazzi and his wife, Holly Davoren, of Milford, Massachusetts. They are the extremely proud grandparents of Nicholas Bertonazzi, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, Peter Bertonazzi, of Milford, Massachusetts and Griffin Bertonazzi, of Providence, Rhode Island. Louis enjoyed traveling, music and the theater. 

As a child and young adult, he danced and performed in numerous community productions. He was an avid sports fan. He spoke five foreign languages. Mostly, he enjoyed spending time with family at his summer home in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. 

A visitation will at held at Consigli Ruggerio Funeral Home on 46 Water Street in Milford, Massachusetts on Thursday, May 22, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 23, 2025 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church at 5 East Main Street in Milford, Massachusetts. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. 

This local obituary is published via Legacy.com and Consigli Ruggerio Funeral Home. Want a loved one’s obituary featured on Boston.com? Submit your obituary here, or email it to [email protected].