Gertrude’s Pastry Shop Owner Bernie Osborne Wins State Award for Maine Maple Pastry and Cherishes Small-Town Family Business-August 19, 1979

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