For Bernie Osborne, owner of Gertrude’s Pastry Shop in Norwood Center, keeping his business small, friendly, and family-oriented is a deliberate choice. “We are a little shop, a Mom and Pop shop, which is a rare thing these days,” the 36-year-old baker said. “I want to stay that way. We are happy with it.”
Osborne preserves a long tradition of family ownership at the bakery, which was established roughly 60 years prior, making him only the third owner in its history. He previously worked for former owner Adolph Jackle, who eventually invited Osborne to work alongside him before selling him the shop four years ago. Osborne’s baking roots run deep; he grew up visiting his uncle’s bakery in Waltham, attended the Henry Pierce School in Boston during high school—where he won four scholarships for cake decorating—and subsequently studied at the Jacqueline Martini School of Decorating in Boston under Martini, who later operated a candy factory in Canton. Following a three-year tour of duty in the Army from 1962 to 1965 as a clerk-typist in Germany, Osborne honed his craft across several bakeries before returning to Norwood 15 years ago to start out washing pots and pans at Gertrude’s.
Osborne recently captured top honors in the fancy pastry division at the annual Massachusetts Retail Bakers Association cooking contest with his signature Maine Maple pastry—a layered creation featuring a Swedish pie crust bottom, layers of apple, white cake, and German struzel, finished with a maple-flavored cream frosting and baked entirely without preservatives or chemicals. Winning the competition was especially validating given the high-profile judging panel, which included renowned cook and author Julia Child, Boston Globe food critic Anthony Spinazzola, and Albert DeStefano, a culinary instructor at the Lawrence Vocational Schools. “It was a real honor to be judged best by professionals like that,” Osborne said modestly.
Operating the spotless shop truly is a family affair. Osborne is supported by his wife, Helen, whom he calls his “Number One helper,” along with their three children: Karen, 17, Charles, 14, and Eric, 11, with the two boys helping out regularly at the store. Whether crafting creative birthday cakes for neighborhood children or baking fresh daily goods, Osborne remains content: “This is the first shop I have owned, and now my sons are coming in to help me. I expect we are set here for the rest of my life.” (Reporting by Nona Dearth, The Patriot Ledger).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
-
Norwood Woman Continues to Care with Program’s Help-July 19, 1993
/In the quaint town of Norwood, Massachusetts, a remarkable story of compassion and dedication has unfolded over the past twelve years. Marie Jaras, a widow in her mid-sixties, has been providing a foster home for Ormond Kingsbury, an elderly man who had been her boss at the Plympton Press. The arrangement began informally, with Kingsbury…
-
Breaking the Silence on Brittle Bone Disorder-This Day in Norwood History-June 28, 1991
A Norwood family’s national custody battle over a rare bone disorder inspires a new library support group to protect innocent parents.
-
Former Norwood Resident Robert Iantosca Named Winemaker at Sonoma County’s Gloria Ferrer Winery-August 19, 1987
Robert Iantosca, formerly of Norwood, has been named winemaker at Sonoma County’s renowned Gloria Ferrer Winery, bringing hands-on expertise and innovative sparkling wine techniques.
-
Italian University Students Lucia Rovigo and Marcello Mascellaro Bring Touch of Home to Norwood Host Families-August 10, 1981
Italian university students Lucia Rovigo and Marcello Mascellaro are spending a month in Norwood as guests of local families through the Interstudy program.
-
Norwood Resident Finds Warm Bed After Months of Searching-August 5, 1981
Following months of hardship after his rooming house closed, 58-year-old Norwood resident James Poles found a warm bed thanks to longtime friend Elliott Webber, who welcomed him to his Rockhill Street home.
-
Norwood Greenhouse Resident to Relocate to Quincy-July 02, 1981
In the summer of 1981, a Norwood veteran struggling with housing instability turned a local greenhouse into a makeshift home before the community rallied to find him a more dignified living situation.
-
The Master Navigator of Local Commerce-This Day in Norwood History-June 28, 1980
An 80-year-old former union pioneer and Edison engineer commands the Norwood Chamber, working a grueling 40-hour week.
-
Gertrude’s Pastry Shop Owner Bernie Osborne Wins State Award for Maine Maple Pastry and Cherishes Small-Town Family Business-August 19, 1979
Bernie Osborne, owner of Gertrude’s Pastry Shop in Norwood Center, won top honors at the Massachusetts Retail Bakers Association contest with his signature Maine Maple pastry judged by Julia Child.
-
Harold “Skip” Rideout Expands Marine Construction Business in Southport, Maine-August 13, 1979
Norwood High graduate Harold “Skip” Rideout expanded his marine construction business in Southport, Maine, by purchasing a 42-foot towboat and a 60-foot barge.
-
Rescued by Neighbor: Norwood Woman Survives 5-Day Ordeal-July 9, 1979
Discover the heroic story of Jim Rossetsky, an orderly at Norwood Hospital, who discovered his 65-year-old neighbor injured in her bedroom after she had been trapped for five days.
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.