Bev's Story
Bev was born in 1954, and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1967, her family moved to Northford, Connecticut where she attended the North Branford School system. She played piano and excelled at administrative assistant skills.
At the age of 20, Bev relocated to Deerfield Beach, Florida, where she worked at an accounting firm and loved dancing at night clubs. She was so talented at dancing, that she taught people the dance moves of the mid 70’s at the
Pete & Lenny’s night club in Fort Lauderdale.
While visiting her family in Northford during Christmas 1975, Bev met Bud Bassoli on December 26. There was something very magical and both knew they were meant to be together, and in May 1976 Bev moved back to Northford.
They got married on April 29, 1977. They bought a home in Wallingford, Connecticut in 1978, raised their sons Steve and Kyle, always had dogs, traveled, lovingly welcomed Katie (Steve’s wife) and MaryKate (Kyle’s wife) into the family. Grandchildren, Ivy, Evan, Rheya and Jack were so loved by Bev.
During Bev’s working years, she worked as an executive assistant reporting: directly to the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven; various executives at Amphenol in Wallingford; and the CFO for Emhart/Black & Decker in New Haven.
Bev’s passion for the art of photography became a fulltime business in 2007 when she upstarted “Moments in Images” with an emphasis on architecture and nature. Her pictures of the Yale University architecture were in high demand at a few shoppes in New Haven that included Atticus Bookstore.
Photo ops were always planned into Bev & Bud’s vacations especially at the US National Parks and of course the family.
At the age of 20, Bev relocated to Deerfield Beach, Florida, where she worked at an accounting firm and loved dancing at night clubs. She was so talented at dancing, that she taught people the dance moves of the mid 70’s at the
Pete & Lenny’s night club in Fort Lauderdale.
While visiting her family in Northford during Christmas 1975, Bev met Bud Bassoli on December 26. There was something very magical and both knew they were meant to be together, and in May 1976 Bev moved back to Northford.
They got married on April 29, 1977. They bought a home in Wallingford, Connecticut in 1978, raised their sons Steve and Kyle, always had dogs, traveled, lovingly welcomed Katie (Steve’s wife) and MaryKate (Kyle’s wife) into the family. Grandchildren, Ivy, Evan, Rheya and Jack were so loved by Bev.
During Bev’s working years, she worked as an executive assistant reporting: directly to the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven; various executives at Amphenol in Wallingford; and the CFO for Emhart/Black & Decker in New Haven.
Bev’s passion for the art of photography became a fulltime business in 2007 when she upstarted “Moments in Images” with an emphasis on architecture and nature. Her pictures of the Yale University architecture were in high demand at a few shoppes in New Haven that included Atticus Bookstore.
Photo ops were always planned into Bev & Bud’s vacations especially at the US National Parks and of course the family.
Beverly Lewis Bassoli, 67, of Wallingford, CT passed peacefully at home with family by her side on September 26th after a year-long battle with brain cancer. Bev was the loving wife and best friend of Henry “Bud” Bassoli.
She was born in Des Moines, Iowa and was the: daughter of the late Rex and Doris Lewis; daughter-in-law of Helen Bassoli and the late Henry Bassoli Sr.; mother to Stephen (Katie) Bassoli of Prospect, CT, and Kyle (MaryKate) Bassoli of Cheshire, CT; sister to Lynette (Paul) Haaf of North Haven, CT, Cathy (Dave) Abbott of Colorado and Cheryl (Doug) Anderson of Pennsylvania; and grandmother to Ivy Bassoli, Evan Bassoli, Rheya Bassoli and Jack Bassoli. Sister-in-law to Barbara & George Bildstein of North Haven, CT. |
Her family moved to Northford, CT in 1967 where she graduated from North Branford HS in 1972. She met Bud, the love of her life, in 1975 and they were married in 1977. They were meant to be with each other for an everlasting, love-filled and happy marriage.
Bev’s passions included family, dancing, flowers, gardening, cooking with Bud, photography of nature and architecture, movies, visiting the U.S. National Parks and being with her beloved dogs Hayley, Colby and Macy. Bev and Bud loved traveling in their RV with their dogs by their side. She enjoyed a career as an executive assistant in businesses encompassing accounting, insurance, medical and industrial technologies. Retiring in 2007, she started Bev’s Note Cards business showcasing her photography skills. The family would like to thank Yale New Haven Hospital Smilow Oncology and Vitas In-Home Hospice for their care and compassion. There is no celebration of life planned at this time. Please consider a memorial contribution to: The Wallingford Dog Lover's Association c/o Ron Houde 223 Higganum Road Durham, CT 06422 |
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4/26/2022 - Bev enjoying a moment around this date, 2014 at Florine & Dick Dombroski's home in Florida, and 2018 at Starbucks in Wallingford, CT.
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3/26/2022 - Six months ago Bev was taken away from us. Again, Thank You All for your care and words of encouragement.
Picture is from March 2019. Photo by Katie. And photo with Katie. |
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3/8/2022 - Throw back on this date March 8, 2017. Colby just got his first grooming and Bev was beaming with pride.
Colby, Hayley and Macy tried out daycare at Paws in Cheshire CT yesterday, and they loved it!!! Paws will be their 2nd home as I venture out for my travels in the near future. Thank you all for your care and support. |
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3/5/2022 - On this day March 5th in 2008, a picture that Bev took of an old car under some freshly fallen snow at Beaumont Farms in Wallingford CT, shared 1st prize in a photo contest by the Record-Journal newspaper in Meriden CT.
I was and still am so very proud of her photography, and all of the picture memories she left me. |
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2/14/2022 - Happy Valentine's Day to the Love of my Life!
I cherish my memory of the last "I Love You", kiss, hug, holding hands, dance, shopping, riding in the car, smile, laying down, and hoping for the best with you. In my life ... I love you more. |
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2/5/2022 - Hi … I hope you are doing well as we settle into February. As some of you may not know, back in 1988 Bev shot and narrated a video of me giving our son Steve a Nintendo game. Steve put the video up on YouTube 30 years later, and to date it has been viewed 4.2 million times which averages around 3,000 views per day. I love watching it and so enjoy hearing her voice.
Here’s the link to the 2 minute video for you to hopefully enjoy … oh and thank you all for your support! |
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12/29/2021 - So, I put Bev’s Boyd’s Bears in the living room chair as she did every Christmas. Her little fur-girl Macy loves sitting with them
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12/26/2021 - Bev and I met 46 years ago tonight at Steak and Ale in Hamden CT. We knew from that moment that we were meant to be together. Her smile captured me totally.
3 months ago tonight, she left me.
Cancer … I hate you!!!
3 months ago tonight, she left me.
Cancer … I hate you!!!
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12/6/2021 - 7 years ago today vacationing at the Orlando theme parks!!! This was In Epcot. We saw the countries in Epcot one drink at a time. Bev was so relaxed and we enjoyed being together.
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11/20/2021 - Flash back … on this date in 2014 … Bev and 5 month old granddaughter Ivy, and us with Hayley (left) and Mae.
Life is Good! Bev soo loved her first granddaughter, and her pups were always by her side.
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11/16/2021 - Good morning!
I have had ups and downs but trying to make each day better for myself, and I hope you are all doing well also. Here is a pic of Bev enjoying some ice cream one year ago today. 
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September 28, 2021 Front Steps Tribute
9/26/2021 - Bev Tribute Video
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9/23/2021 - Bev, the love of my life, is receiving morphine to rest well and alleviate pain. Son Steve with wife Katie, their daughters Ivy & Rheya, and son Kyle with wife MaryKate, their sons Evan & Jack were with Bev during the day.
A week after our wedding, Bev’s parents told me I could call them Doris and Rex or Mom and Dad. I chose Mom and Dad, and they loved and cared for me as their son. I was the luckiest man ever to have a wife and 4 parents that loved me so much. I love this pic of us so much!!! |
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YouTube Video Montage
9/18/2021 - Friends … Bev has had declining times. The very caring Vitas In Home Hospice Care is now helping us out. Thank you all for your kind thoughts.
Love you all
9/15/2021 - One year ago … Bev’s recall was getting worse and we scheduled an MRI of her brain for September 28, 2020.
Today … Bev does not feel well most days with a headache and GI issues. Her left eye has blurry and double vision … patching it helps, thereby relying on her right eye. Her recall is not very good, pictures are needed when I tell her about people and places.
But she knows that Hayley, Colby and Macy love love love their mommy.
Bev is a trooper and I am so there for her
9/12/2021 - Hi Family & Friends … Bev had a fairly good relaxing week with visits from friends Bob and Sue Dempsey, sister Lynette D. Haaf, friend Tony Johns, son Steve, wife Katie with granddaughters Ivy & Rheya, and Kyle, wife MK with grandsons Evan & Jack. She enjoyed seeing and hugging them.
Of course we went to Starbucks a few times this week and Bev prefers her Mocha Latte over the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
We hope you have a good week.
Love you all
9/15/2021 - One year ago … Bev’s recall was getting worse and we scheduled an MRI of her brain for September 28, 2020.
Today … Bev does not feel well most days with a headache and GI issues. Her left eye has blurry and double vision … patching it helps, thereby relying on her right eye. Her recall is not very good, pictures are needed when I tell her about people and places.
But she knows that Hayley, Colby and Macy love love love their mommy.
Bev is a trooper and I am so there for her
9/12/2021 - Hi Family & Friends … Bev had a fairly good relaxing week with visits from friends Bob and Sue Dempsey, sister Lynette D. Haaf, friend Tony Johns, son Steve, wife Katie with granddaughters Ivy & Rheya, and Kyle, wife MK with grandsons Evan & Jack. She enjoyed seeing and hugging them.
Of course we went to Starbucks a few times this week and Bev prefers her Mocha Latte over the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
We hope you have a good week.
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9/9/2021 - I love this pic from 2014. Bev is telling 3 month old Ivy “Ivy, I am your grandma!”, and the pups Mae and Hayley are looking on and I believe they are thinking “Grandma!!! but you are still our mommy … right??”
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9/7/2021 - So we met on Friday December 26, 1975 (around 8 pm) in the lounge at Steak and Ale in Hamden CT. I was with my friend John and 2 tables away was Bev, her sister Cheryl and bro-in-law Doug. The second I saw Bev’s face it was like getting hit by lightning … wow!!! After a couple of minutes, John waved to Doug, they got up and started talking about what has happened to them since they both graduated together from Hamden HS. I went over and started talking to Bev and Cheryl. My eyes fixed on Bev. John and I were invited to sit with them! YESSS!!! I was on Bev’s right and John on her left. After dancing and chatting, I learned that she was on holiday vacation and flying back to her apartment in Deerfield Beach, Florida on Sunday afternoon. Oh nooo, well … I got my question in … would you like to go out with me tomorrow night? Bev grabbed my hands and said Yes! I’m on cloud 9! Wow she is so beautiful, easy to talk to and loved to dance.
Saturday night, I met her parents and younger sisters Cathy and Lynette, and off we went to the Chart House for dinner and then to the Showcase Cinema to see Dog Day Afternoon … Bev told me that I looked like Al Pacino who she liked. WoooHa. I’m off to good start.
Sunday morning we went out for breakfast where she met my best friend Bob, and then I brought her to my home to meet my parents and sister Barb.
Then we went back to Bev’s parents home and she flew back to Florida.
Our long distance relationship started with calling each other everyday and writing letters. I went down twice to visit. She told me that after our first Saturday night date, she told her mom that she met the man she was going to marry and my father told me after he first met Bev “I like that girl … don’t let her go!” I said “she was the one Dad”, It was meant to be.
Well, after lots of talking, we wanted to be together and I flew down and we drove her back to CT, and we arrived back on May 15, 1976 on her 22nd birthday.
The next 4 months we spent a lot of time together talking that we were meant to be together, and it was this week in 1976 that we started looking for her engagement ring.
Here are some pics taken during those 4 great months.
I am the luckiest man ever!!!
Saturday night, I met her parents and younger sisters Cathy and Lynette, and off we went to the Chart House for dinner and then to the Showcase Cinema to see Dog Day Afternoon … Bev told me that I looked like Al Pacino who she liked. WoooHa. I’m off to good start.
Sunday morning we went out for breakfast where she met my best friend Bob, and then I brought her to my home to meet my parents and sister Barb.
Then we went back to Bev’s parents home and she flew back to Florida.
Our long distance relationship started with calling each other everyday and writing letters. I went down twice to visit. She told me that after our first Saturday night date, she told her mom that she met the man she was going to marry and my father told me after he first met Bev “I like that girl … don’t let her go!” I said “she was the one Dad”, It was meant to be.
Well, after lots of talking, we wanted to be together and I flew down and we drove her back to CT, and we arrived back on May 15, 1976 on her 22nd birthday.
The next 4 months we spent a lot of time together talking that we were meant to be together, and it was this week in 1976 that we started looking for her engagement ring.
Here are some pics taken during those 4 great months.
I am the luckiest man ever!!!
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9/6/2021 - Hi Friends … Bev is now experiencing not so good moments with double vision and weakness in walking. I am hoping that these are possibly side effects from weening off of the meds. I am forever the optimist.
Wishing you all a nice holiday!
Wishing you all a nice holiday!
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9/3/2021 - Yesterday morning Bev wanted a Starbucks mocha latte and then we stopped for a pic with the palm trees, and 3 miles away the Quinnipiac River rages after Tropical Storm Ida hit us the night before. Very sad to see the River.
Yesterday afternoon we went to Yale New Haven Hospital for an appointment with an ophthalmologist for her “blurry” vision. Diagnosis … imagine the right side of each eye is clear and the left side of each eye is blurry … no glasses or alteration of the lenses can correct this. So the doctor said, try to place things to her right and point out things to her right. |
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YouTube Video of Bev & Bud singing I Want To Hold Your Hand by The Beatles
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8/29/2021 - Our long time good friends Gail and Steve Applebaum from Port Jefferson Station, Long Island paid us a visit today! Bud and Steve met at Quinnipac University back in 1972 where we both majored in Computer Science. Steve and Gail were up to attend a memorial service for Bruce Saulnier who was our CS Professor, mentor and friend. He is dearly missed.
Gail and Steve attended our wedding back in 1977. We lost touch with each other but renewed our friendship several years ago. And like they say good friends pick up where they leave off without loosing a beat. Bev was so happy to see them and was extremely happy with the flowers and bagels (yesss THE BEST from Long Island). It is always great to be with Gail and Steve! Love you |
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8/27/2021 - This is from our last family vacation at Lake George, NY on August 27, 2019. I hope Bev and I will be able to go before this fall. “ it isn’t summer unless we go to Lake George “
YouTube Video of Bev happy and carefree
8/24/2021 - Here are some pics of the annual Plainville CT Hot Air balloon festival that Bev shot for a local newspaper on August 24, 2008, and she had the opportunity to go for a ride!!!
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8/22/2021 - On Friday, we enjoyed having dinner at our son Kyle’s home. Bev enjoyed being with MaryKate and grandsons Evan and Jack. The boys showed Bev their new toys and told her about their day at camp.
Yesterday morning, our son Steve and granddaughters Ivy and Rheya brought us breakfast. The girls showed Bev their new toys that have all these compartments that pop open when you press its buttons, and they drew Bev some pictures.
Yesterday afternoon, long time great friends Regina Vallone Longyear and Dave Longyear paid us a visit in the afternoon. Bev enjoyed hearing about their family and their recent trip to Yankee Stadium. They brought Bev a beautiful bouquet of flowers that she is enjoying very much.
Last night our new neighbor Rick stopped by to see if we needed anything from the store … wow!!!
And now, we are hunkered down as the rain just started for Tropical Storm Henri. We have our RV’s systems all charged up in case they are needed.
We hope all family and friends on Long Island, the Vinyahd, Massachusetts and Connecticut are safe.
Yesterday morning, our son Steve and granddaughters Ivy and Rheya brought us breakfast. The girls showed Bev their new toys that have all these compartments that pop open when you press its buttons, and they drew Bev some pictures.
Yesterday afternoon, long time great friends Regina Vallone Longyear and Dave Longyear paid us a visit in the afternoon. Bev enjoyed hearing about their family and their recent trip to Yankee Stadium. They brought Bev a beautiful bouquet of flowers that she is enjoying very much.
Last night our new neighbor Rick stopped by to see if we needed anything from the store … wow!!!
And now, we are hunkered down as the rain just started for Tropical Storm Henri. We have our RV’s systems all charged up in case they are needed.
We hope all family and friends on Long Island, the Vinyahd, Massachusetts and Connecticut are safe.
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8/18/2021 - Bev started off the day feeling good and she was finding the words to let me know that she wanted to go for a ride out of town this morning for brunch and you know I can’t say no. Some of the nasty side effects from discontinuing a couple of the meds are very slowly going away … so we got in our RV coach and drove about 45 minutes to Cleveland’s Country Store in Plymouth CT. This place is a throwback with candy, ice cream, jams, jellies, syrups and all types of food, and reminds us of the Vermont country stores!
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8/17/2021 - We had a visit today with sisters
Janyce Roberts Cattaruzza and Laurie Roberts Slubowski to our home. Jan, Laurie and Bev have know each other since their teenage years meeting at North Branford HS in CT. Bev’s family moved from Des Moines, Iowa to North Branford in the late 60’s. It was nice for all of us to catch up. |
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8/17/2021 - Bev has a passion for photography and her pictures capture the moment, the right angle and a joy to look at. On August 17, 2008 she got up early, drove to downtown Wallingford and captured this picture … she knew there would be no cars to spoil her shot.
8/15/2021 - One year ago we were RVing at Aces High in East Lyme. This is one of our favorite RV parks in CT. Colby owns Bev’s lap. This is when Bev started not finding words.
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8/14/2021 - Steve, Rheya, Ivy & Bev
8/13/2021 - The day started off with feeding the pups and the birds, and then breakfast. After our weekly groceries were delivered, we took a ride to Starbucks for a frappacino on this hot day, Home Depot for a curbside delivery and then to Cheshire Nursey to look at flowers. Bev loves looking. As the day continued, she started to not feel well. Considering that we are weening her off of 2 medications with the hope to making her feel a little better from the nasty side effects (skin rashes, stomach aches, gait, hair thinning) … well it ain’t working yet. But we have hope and
Have a nice weekend and thank you all for your support and kind thoughts.
Have a nice weekend and thank you all for your support and kind thoughts.
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8/8/2021 - We got a visit from Bob and Ann Dempsey this afternoon. Bob and Bud have been best friends for most of the 60 years that we have known each other, and being best man at each other’s wedding. Bev and I had a small surprise for Bob’s upcoming bday!
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8/7/2021 - Bev’s sister Lynette D. Haaf just brought Bev some perennial flowers from the plants that Bev gave her last year.
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8/3/2021 - We took a 20 minute drive in the RV to Lyman Orchards in Durham CT the next town over from our town and did some treats only food shopping! It felt almost normal! On the 20 minute ride back we sang all the way to the Beatles songs. Bev sang ALL the words!!! Thank you John and Paul for the songs that she can remember the words to
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8/4/2021 - It’s the sparrows feeding time at Bev’s Bird Seed Depot!
I count 11. Every Monday we go to Cheshire Nursery and Bev buys a 25 pound bag of bird seed! 
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8/3/2021 - Here is a pic of our family taken on this day in 2013 at a winery in Lake George NY!!!
Katie Cushman Bassoli & Steve, MaryKate Mrazik Bassoli & Kyle, Bev & me. Sure enjoy the short drive and Love the Lake. (Steve Lewis) 
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8/2/2021 - Bev in the RV at Wallingford's Starbucks.
7/31/2021 - Although our RV camping is on hold for now, here we are at the Starbucks (her favorite) in Wallingford CT. Annnnd just around the corner we parked for a pic with our RV ‘TKoach’. And yes those are real Palm Trees that are planted in the late spring and removed in the early fall. Bev enjoys seeing them every year.
We hope you are enjoying your summer.
We hope you are enjoying your summer.
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7/30/2021 - It was a year ago that we were enjoying going to a few RV parks in CT for an overnight or 2 in our RV with our 3 pups Hayley, Colby and Macy. Everyone respected our space and social distanced with masks. We felt somewhat normal during the pandemic.
But Bev was forgetting things that we talked about the day before. We thought she was experiencing a side effect from some new medication that she was taking. Her doctor put her on a 14 day weening off schedule. I’ll continue with this in a later post.
Now, our days involve filling the bird feeders every morning, and she loves seeing the birds flying to and from the feeders during the day.
One of the shows she likes to watch on TV is Love It or List It. She has seen each episode at least a couple of times but she still enjoys watching them.
But Bev was forgetting things that we talked about the day before. We thought she was experiencing a side effect from some new medication that she was taking. Her doctor put her on a 14 day weening off schedule. I’ll continue with this in a later post.
Now, our days involve filling the bird feeders every morning, and she loves seeing the birds flying to and from the feeders during the day.
One of the shows she likes to watch on TV is Love It or List It. She has seen each episode at least a couple of times but she still enjoys watching them.
Between March 13 and July 30, Bev held steady with chemo infusion treatments every 3 weeks but
she hated the MRIs that were required to see what was going on with tumor ...
I never told her that the tumor was Grade 4
because I wanted her to fight and she did ...
I told her every day that I was so proud of her and
that she was my hero.
I tried my best to make her believe that today would be a better day.
she hated the MRIs that were required to see what was going on with tumor ...
I never told her that the tumor was Grade 4
because I wanted her to fight and she did ...
I told her every day that I was so proud of her and
that she was my hero.
I tried my best to make her believe that today would be a better day.
