Bert Esworthy

Bert Esworthy, age 81, passed away Saturday, January 16, 2016, at 1:05 PM in St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville, NC.

Bert was born on June 23, 1934 in Pisa, Italy, famous for its "Leaning Tower". He was named Umberto Mario Giovanni Neviani. Soon after birth, he was placed in an orphanage in Marina di Pisa. When the orphanage relocated to the mountain town of Montefoscoli to escape the impending battles between the American and German military units during WWII, then ten years old and starving, he escaped from the orphanage only to find himself caught in hails of crossfire between American and German forces.

While living off the land, he joined a refugee group that streamed south the environs of Grosetto. He helped the refugees obtain food by begging door to door for leftovers. He later worked on the farm and gave his earnings to the refugees. A year later when the war subsided, he went to Pisa to live with his mother, who two weeks later, returned him to the orphanage. While at the orphanage, he was taught English well enough that the First Sergeant of a unit from the 1st Armored Division used him as a translator, outfitting him with a tailored Army uniform with the rank of Sergeant.

While living in camp next door to the orphanage in Marina di Pisa, a soldier from Akron, Ohio befriended him and arranged for this adoption by a neighboring family, Paul and Emma Esworthy. Unable to gather all the necessary documents for his journey to the United States, the soldier boarded him as a stowaway on the "Pomona Victory" which transported 3,000 soldiers to New York City where, upon arrival, he met his future father who was obligated by law to hand him over to the Port Authorities who then impounded him on Ellis Island. Soon after his father, Paul R. Esworthy, was able to convince the US Congress to pass a law to legally admit him to the United States. Bert wrote a novel about his early life titled, "The Runaway Orphan".

Growing up in Akron, Ohio, he attended Finley Grade School, starting in the fourth grade, Jennings Junior High, Akron North High School, and graduated from the University of Akron with a BA, majoring in Political Science. While attending the university, he lettered in soccer and lacrosse. He was president of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and was inducted into Omicron Delta fraternity for his scholarship and campus leadership.

He was commissioned from ROTC as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. He served in France, Okinawa, Thailand, two tours in Vietnam, and Germany. He also served at Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Ord, California, and Fort Bragg, NC. While assigned at Fort Bragg he attended, on a part time basis, North Carolina State University and earned a Masters degree in Public Affairs.

During his military service he was awarded the Legion of Merit, a Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, 19 Air Medals, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Honor Medal 1st Class, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, with Silver Star, with Palm (Unit). He was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Ranger Tab, Parachute Badge, Humanitarians Service Medal and various ribbons for military service.

He engaged in community service activities such as coaching youth sports and actively supported the Boy and Girl Scouts wherever he lived. He served on the North Carolina Girl Scout Council, the Board of the North Carolina Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and was President of the Cumberland County Alliance for the Mentally Ill. He also served as President of the Fayetteville Sons of Italy Lodge. He founded the Cumberland County Republican Men Club and served as its President. He served as Secretary of the Marion Kiwanis Club.

Bert was a devoted and loving adopted son of Paul and Emma Esworthy. He never forsake his natural mother Angelina Romani, his half-sister Rosella Romani, and half-brother Ernesto Romani, all of Pisa, Italy where he journeyed often to visit them. He was also a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his loving, kind, and compassionate wife, Evelyn Queen Esworthy of Marion, NC; his industrious sons, Bert Esworthy of Hilton Head, SC and Chris Esworthy of Dallas, Texas; his step-son, Richard Parker of Marion, NC; his grandson, Shawn Esworthy of Blufton, SC; his granddaughter, Rachel Stanzack; and his great-granddaughter, Rhianna Gracie Riley of Marion, NC. Bert was a member of Saint John Episcopal Church in Marion.

Services will be conducted Friday, January, 22, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Hollandale Advent Christian Church in Spring Lake. Entombment with full military honors will follow in LaFayette Memorial Park in Fayetteville, NC. The family will receive friends at Adcock Funeral Home and Crematory on Thursday, January 21, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, PO Box 968, Marion, NC. 28752.