I got a call this afternoon from my old friend, Robert Giampetruzzi. He called to tell me that his mother, Roberta Giampetruzzi died last night after losing a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 93.

Robert and I are roughly the same age with birthdays only a few weeks apart. We met in the summer in 1957 or 1958 when our parents arranged for Robert and I to share a birthday party together. I can still remember the gathering in the garage by the middle cottage. Robert and I became close friends and spent our summers growing up together on and around Clary Lake, swimming, fishing, boating, and camping out, and, as boys will occasionally do, getting in trouble. Roberta was like a second mother to me and she treated me like one of her own children. And boy could she cook! “Life’s too short not to be Italian” she’d say.

One summer when I was 12 or 13 Robert and I were horsing around as boys will, and I fell out of a tree and broke my arm. Roberta comforted me, wrapped my arm up in a folded newspaper, and delivered me down the road to my parents who took me to Gardiner General to get my broken arm set.

Robert said he’d send me a picture of Roberta and an obituary when it’s ready, which I will post here. Roberta has been a generous member of the Clary Lake Association for as long as I can remember, and I wanted to post something immediately to let people know of her passing.

It is with sadness that I inform you of the passing of Bruce Relyea. Bruce was a friend of mine, a faithful steward of Clary Lake, and a long time member of the Clary Lake Association. Bruce and his wife Audrey bought their property on the south shore of Clary Lake in Jefferson from Francis Ward in 1967 and it remains in the family today. Bruce was an early supporter of the Association which was formed not too long before Bruce arrived, in 1960. Bruce served as Association President from 2002 through 2004 and has been a generous benefactor of the Association over the years. He will be missed.  Here’s his obituary from the Fort Worth Texas Star-Telegram:

Bruce J. Relyea 1928 – 2018

Bruce J. Relyea FORT WORTH — Bruce J. Relyea, 90, of Fort Worth, passed away on January 9, 2018. Bruce was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Mildred and Bruce Relyea. He enlisted into the United States Army Air Force at age 18, serving in Japan as a control tower operator, and upon discharge he attended Miami University of Ohio, earning a degree in Business Administration. In 1950, he began his career as an auditor for General Electric Co. in Cleveland. Four years later, he married his wife of 64 years, Audrey Jennison. Bruce was later employed at Penn Central Co., Ebasco Industries, and as Comptroller with Union Pacific. He ended his career as Vice President of Finance at Champlin Petroleum Company in Fort Worth. Not one to sit idly, after retirement, Bruce took up ranching in Grandview before returning to Fort Worth to spend time with his children and grandchildren. Bruce was an avid reader, a talented bridge player, an enthusiastic golfer, and a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He enjoyed spending summers with Audrey and family at his wild blueberry farm, North Forty, in Jefferson, Maine. Bruce was preceded in death by his infant son, Douglas Edward. SURVIVORS: His wife of 63 years, Audrey Jennison Relyea; children, Robert Bruce Relyea (Jeraldine), Susan Relyea Pardee (Tom), Steven Jennison Relyea (Adrienne), Gregory John Relyea (June); . his sister, Lynda Metzler. 11 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

On behalf of the Clary Lake Association Board I wish offer our condolences to his wife Audrey and the family.