I heard about this on the local news (here in Philly). I didn't know of Morizio but it's sad all the same. That is certainly a freak accident that shouldn't have happened.

My prayers are with his family and friends.

Oh dear, I hope that's not Maurizio. But the odds...oh man. That is horrible.

I wanted to post it here this morning, but were not sure how many of you would remember Maurizio.

It is indeed our dear friend and stone master equaled by none. Our world is a lot sadder place for having lost him.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laura and the rest of his family. Maurizio will be missed by everybody that knew him and I am honored to have been able to call him my friend.

Adriana

Oh, so sad. FindStone was the first place I came across when I first discovered soapstone. What a terrible thing to happen to anyone. My heart goes out to his family.

Oh my! How sad. He was extreamly helpful when I was deciding on getting my antique marble for my kitchen. He was SUCH a wealth of information and never tired answering my questions. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

I enjoyed his feisty writing style and his insight into stone and its appropriate uses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Instructions for condolences

Mom2lilenj-- your story is not unique, in ANY way shape or form. He's always been a help to ANYONE who asked for it. May God bless him and give his family strength.

oh my, I do remember; how sad and tragic.

When I knew not a thing about granite as I began my research into a kitchen redo, his was the first and best website (except for gw, of course,) I found. Loved his straight-forward manner and appreciated his knowledge and words of advice. What a shock and a shame.

What a loss! He also helped us with any questions we had.
May he rest in peace.

What terrible news. Maurizio was a great resource, he loved stone and was a fierce advocate for the material and a valuable resource here when many of us were trying to decide what we wanted to do.

Addio Maurizio.

Very tragic :( His knowledge of all things stone related was second to none. My prayers are with is family.
Monica

How very sad and tragic for his family. I wish his wife a speedy recovery from her injuries and send my sympathies to all his family and co-workers. The tribute on their website is lovely.

How very sad.

How sad and tragic! Having been in a similar accident not long ago, I can say it was the most terrifying moment of my life. Makes me appreciate walking away unharmed(and my little girl too) that much more. My thoughts are with his family.

That is very sad. Even though we don't know each other personally, yet we grow a bond. In fact we often interact with each other more (online) than with friends and family. Hours spent on these forums creates a unique friendship.

It is truly devastating to lose such a wonderfully helpful man...

Peace be with him....

So tragic!...and so very, very sad.

I'm so sorry to learn of this. Maurizio was such a knowledgeable, forthright soul who shared his wisdom with countless numbers of us so freely. This is very sad, indeed. May he rest in peace and God bless his loved ones.

The grace of God is with him and his family. His knowledge and sarcastic wit brought life to discussion of cold stone. I learned much from his contributions to many forums and blogs and will always know that the only decision in stone is the "right fabricator" as he so often stated. Sometimes I would get so frustrated with his responses when his bottom line was selecting the right fabricator or the right care of stone in answer to a question about a particular stone. However he was so very correct for those of us who are stone lovers but not involved in the industry have come to realize that the right fabricator is the answer to all questions. Maurizio Bertoli's advice was always to the point. I will miss his voice in all the important stone forums I visit. My prayers to the family and God Speed, Maurizio!

Isn't it interesting how the internet has forever changed the meaning of the words "community" and "friends." Like the rest of you, I've never met Maurizio but I ran across his website some time ago and learned so much. Thanks to you East Coasters who brought this to our attention, and to bmorepanic for telling us how to express our sympathy to his family. What a terrible loss.

Such sad news. My heartfelt condolences to Maurizio's family, friends and coworkers.

omg, I used to read Maurizio faithfully, starting 2 years ago, when I was only thinking about doing the kitchen and was researching granite. I had some personal e-mails back and forth with him when he recommended a granite place in NJ near where I live. It is too heartbreaking to imagine he is gone -- too young and in such a senseless way.
My condolences, as well, to his family and friends.

My condolences to his friends and family.May peace be with you.

How tragic -- We have all lost an online friend and helpmate today, and the world is a poorer place for it.

Let us all remember what he gave to the world, and be grateful that he gave it --

Taken from Stone Business Online:
Friday, 15 August 2008
Maurizio Bertoli, 64, of Keansburg, N.J., died Aug. 14 when his vehicle was hit by flying debris on Interstate 95 south of downtown Philadelphia. His wife, Laura, received minor injuries in the accident, according to local news accounts.
A set of dual tires broke off the real axle of a southbound semi-trailer rig, according to Pennsylvania State Police investigators, and flew into oncoming northbound traffic on the freeway. One tire hit a vehicle and caused minor damage, but that same tire then struck the windshield that Honda Odyssey that Bertoli was driving. He died at the scene.

Maurizio BertoliBertoli earned a reputation as an internationally recognized stone-care expert, often as the "answer man" for questions posed on Websites such as gardenweb.com and his own mbstone.com. He also formulated and sold his own line of stone-care products for the past 18 years.
Bertoli began his career in the stone trade in 1959 as a 16-year-old taking a summer job at a marble fabricator in Parma, Italy. He worked for five years as a floor setter for a Parma marble-flooring company while completing his university education; he bought the company in 1969 and received his degree a year later.
Bertoli expanded the company during the next ten years, while also studying geology and chemistry as applied to natural stone. At the end of the 1970s, Bertoli sold his firm and moved to New Jersey, eventually forming his own business for marble-floor care. He began his own line of stone-care products in 1990; he also began speaking and writing on stone care for the industry.
Bertoli also expanded his educational efforts in the past 10 years, including the training of in-house maintenance crews at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. He also aided in founding the International Training Centers for the Stone Industry (ITCS) and began teaching classes at a facility in Folcroft, Pa. The next course wouldÂve started on Aug. 25.
He also offered his "Ask Maurizio" sessions on the Internet, taking questions from professionals and consumers on stone care. His last answer, on "cloudy Uba Tuba granite," came on Aug. 11.
Information on survivors and services are pending.