Bart was born on April 27, 1938 in Buffalo, NY to Daniel and Virginia (Perritano) Nigro. He graduated from Canisius College in 1960 with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and started his career at Bell Aerosystems during the early days of computer science. He was involved in the Catholic Youth Organization, where he met Valerie, and the two married in 1968. When he became a father to Bart, Jr., Linnea, Brian, and Kimberly, he shifted his career to teaching at Niagara Community College, so he could spend more time with his family. In 1980, after a short stint working in Sierra Vista, Arizona as a government contractor, he moved his family from New York state to Tempe, Arizona to accept a position with Motorola. Bart had a brilliant mind for math, physics, and computer science and a successful engineering and teaching career of which he was proud.
However, Bart’s family always came first, whether he was helping his mother or mother-in-law or taking Valerie and the kids on family vacations, out for a meal, or on family outings. He even brought his wife and children on some of his business trips such as to Washington, D.C., 1,000 Islands, and Munich, Germany. Bart and Valerie kept strong family ties in the Buffalo area and spent summers there visiting family and friends. Later in life, he became an active grandfather to his seven grandchildren and would visit his nearby daughter, Kimberly, and her family every Sunday.
Bart and Valerie’s common faith created a foundation for their marriage and family. Bart and Valerie were active members of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish for many years, and Bart was a member of the Knights of Columbus. After he retired from Motorola, Bart and Valerie volunteered for ten years with St. Vincent de Paul, and Bart also helped people do their taxes. They took Bart’s trip of a lifetime to Jerusalem in 2000. After moving from Tempe to Sun Lakes in 2013, they became involved in St. Steven’s parish, where they made many new friends.
Bart was preceded in death by his father, Daniel, his mother, Virginia, and his son, Bart, Jr. He is survived by his wife Valerie, his daughter Linnea, his son Brian, his daughter Kimberly (Walter Douglas), seven grandchildren (Madeline, Isabella, Nathaniel, Christopher, Sheamus, Bart John-Paul, and Ginger), his brother Daniel, his sister Marie (John Miller), his brother Richard, and various in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation for Bart will be held on Wednesday, May 5, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Valley of the Sun Mortuary with a Vigil Service beginning at 6 p.m. Bart’s funeral mass will be held on Thursday, May 6, at 10 a.m. at Saint Steven’s Catholic Church in Sun Lakes, Arizona. Following the mass, a graveside service and reception at Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery; 10940 E Chandler Heights Rd. Chandler, AZ 85248.
Donations may be made in Bart’s memory to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Arizona or St. Steven’s Catholic Church in Sun Lakes.
DONATIONS
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5