Louis Ambrose Bertani, 86, passed away peacefully in his home on May 22, 2026.
Born in St. Louis, Lou was the son of Ambrose and Mary Bertani (nee Gioia). He was also the brother of Frank Bertani and Rosemary Spitler (nee Bertani), all of whom preceded him in death.
Lou is survived by his former wife Eileen Bertani (nee Owens); Children: John, Ann Marie, and Michael (Christine); Grandchildren: Madeline (William), Elyse (Taha), Christopher (Megan), Megan Newsham, and Benjamin White; Great Grandchildren: Melody and Daniel; and his partner of 31 years Vicky Gusman. Lou was a beloved Uncle, Cousin, and friend to many.
Lou was a graduate of McBride High School, Class of 1957. He then began working in the Job Room at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. After serving as a medic in the U.S. Army, he returned to the Post-Dispatch and retired from there as a Mailer after 43 years.
As an athlete and lifelong Cardinal fan, naturally his passion was playing and following sports. But this was especially true for baseball. In 1995, he drove in the winning runs to take the team Gold Medal in the Senior Olympics. He was inducted into the Amateur Baseball H.O.F. (2004), Amateur Softball H.O.F. (2008), and the McBride High School Hall of Fame (2010).
After his storied baseball career, Lou turned his attention to coaching. For decades he coached baseball, soccer, and basketball at Our Lady of Sorrows and Arts Boys Club. His teams won far too many championships and accolades to list. Lou’s teaching of fundamentals and making even practices fun, led many of his former players to go into coaching themselves with the same approach.
Lou had a gift for making people smile and laugh. Well known for his great sense of humor, and always having a joke at the ready. This was especially true with his family and friends, whom he cherished and loved deeply. He frequently would share how blessed he felt with the people that God had placed in his family and life. When really, WE were the ones blessed for having Lou in ours.
Services: Visitation will be held at St. Raphael the Archangel on Monday, June 1, 2026 at 9am. followed by Funeral service at 10am. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.