Franjo Bertovic

Born in Desmerice (Zagorje), Ogulin, Croatia, CFU Executive Vice President Bertović attended the School of Economics in Ogulin. He is a graduate of ‘Viša prometna škola’ of Zagreb, Croatia. In 1975 Franjo immigrated to Canada and began working for Singer Controls. After a year of service, he was hired by Ford Motor Company and completed 30+ years of employment where he served various positions including Auditor.

Fraternal involvement for CFU Executive Vice President Bertović began in 1990. After attending a traditional St. George day celebration hosted by Lodge 354, Cokeburg, PA, Brother Bertović was inspired to organize and establish a lodge in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. On August 20, 1990, Lodge 530 and Nest 530 were established. Today, CFU Lodge 530 and Nest 530 have nearly 700 members and is the largest CFU lodge in Canada.

Since that time, Brother Bertović has helped to organize CFU Lodge 2001 – Ogulin; Lodge 2002 – Osijek; Lodge 2004 – Koprivnica; Lodge 2005 – Rijeka; Lodge 2006 – Split; Lodge 2007 – Županja; Lodge 2009 – Krapina; Lodge 2015 – Nashville, TN; Lodge 531 – Simcoe, ON, Lodge 401 – Vancouver, WA and Lodge 2019 – Deerfield Beach, FL.

At the 26^th Quadrennial Convention Franjo was elected and currently serves the organization as CFU Executive Vice President.  Offices and positions that he currently serves or has served include: CFU National Vice President/Member Services, President of the CFU High Trial Board, Member of the CFU Board of Trustees, President and Recording Secretary of the Ontario Federation of CFU Lodges, President of CFU Lodge 530 St. Thomas, ON, and elected delegate to the CFU Quadrennial Conventions. He has been awarded for his outstanding dedication and commitment to increasing the ranks of the CFU including the title of “Million Dollar Producer” for his recruitment activity.

In addition to holding numerous positions, Brother Bertović played a key role in the establishment of the CFU Lodge 530 Scholarship Fund and the Ontario Federation of CFU Lodges Scholarship Fund. His fraternal involvement sparked the organization of the Folklore Ensemble Croatian Roots in which he was an Officer and participant as well as the organization of the CFU Ogulin bowling team in Elgin County, in Ontario. He is a frequent contributor of articles for “Kolišće,”, website “Moja Hrvatska” – Večernji List, website “Glas Hrvatske” – HRT and magazine “Matica” HMI. In 2008, Executive Vice President Bertovic was honored with the Culture Award from the city of Ogulin, Croatia.

Executive Vice President Bertović was recognized as Man of the Year by the Ontario Federation of CFU Lodges and has initiated many humanitarian fundraising causes including: help to the Red Cross of Ogulin; the Dora Foundation in Zagreb; Hospitals in Ogulin and Rijeka; St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital in St. Thomas, Ontario; and Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Montreal, Quebec. 

He was honored with wife, Mirjana, as 2023 Fraternalists of the Year sponsored by the United Croatian Fraternal Union Lodges of Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland Counties. Brother Bertovic was also honored as the 2024 Fraternalist of the Year by Fraternal Societies of Greater Pittsburgh and received the Order of the Croatian Interlace (Red Hrvatskog Pletera) from the President of the Republic of Croatian, Zoran Milanović, for an exceptional contribution to the promotion of Croatian heritage, culture, language and identity in the United States and Canada, as well as for his outstanding humanitarian work and efforts in providing humanitarian aid to the Republic of Croatia.