I was very saddened to read about Bart's passing a couple of years ago. I always thought of Bart as a BIG lovable guy who wanted to get along with everyone and participate wherever he thought he could contribute. Even in 7th-grade, because of his size, Bart was a natural candidate for the basketball team. Likewise, with his size entering high school, football seemed to be a natural fit, but he had to prove himself over the next couple of years, as did we all. During our senior year, I played guard on the football team. In several games and during practice, I played alongside Bart or alongside Mike Grace. Either way, it was always fun to have either one of these guys helping me push the opponents down the field. On the other side of the coin, during practice, it was frequently my job to face Bart or Mike as opponents on the line of scrimmage (or in blocking drills). This was not so much fun for me. Bart was much larger and heavier than I was, and going against him was like trying to move a school bus with it's brakes on. Mike was not as large as Bart, but blocking him was no picnic either. Mike was agile, strong, and able to manhandle most opponents making them (me) look like $#!+. Regardless, I actually cherish those memories.
Following graduation from high school, I ran into Bart on a number of occasions. To me he was always the outgoing, gentle giant of a man. I will always remember Bart with a smile on my face.
Barton and I grew up as friends and playmates together in Santa Rosa and our adventures over the years were many. From Scouts through high school football we had a life intertwined. After graduation we fell out of touch until about 6 years ago when we found each other both living in the Northwest. He and I visited each other several times then and often talked by phone. We had a hundred great stories to tell each other about the intervening years. He loved to drive down to Santa Rosa every once in awhile from his home near Gig Harbor (close to Tacoma) and visit with his old high school buddies and football teammates over a beer or two. Bart was semi retired then and worked part-time as a window dressings installer around the greater Seattle area. He had a huge old black lab that adored him. All of a sudden he left the Northwest and his girlfriend there to move to the Benicia / Martinez area in California where he landed a sales position with a local company. At the same time he gave his beloved dog to one of his daughters since he could not keep it in the small apartment he was renting. I spoke with him by phone there a few times and he seemed upbeat but vague as to why he had made that move. A couple of years earlier Bart had told me that he had been living with an on-going heart condition for a long while. Within a month or so of his moving to California he had a heart attack and died. Obviously I have many fond memories of Barton. He was a big and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor who greatly valued his friends and family. I think about him often and miss him in my life.
Bart was a wonderful friend in high school. I doubled dated with him and Carol a few times. He introduced me to his hunky cousin on a date! lol... I always looked forward to seeing him at the Polenta Feeds with his family. And, keeping up with him on Facebook. I was so sad, as he was a wonderful, friendly man.
I guess it's my turn to reflect on Bart. It's funny how petty we as teenagers can be. When we were in Jr. Hi. I remember him in a totally different way than the rest of the classmates. We all know the Bart was big and tall and I knew it most of all. Several reunions ago I saw Bart and told him how much I disliked him in Jr. Hi. beacuse he was a half inch taller than me. Bart was the tallest at SRJH and I was second tallest. He told me he had no idea I felt that way. Time healing all wounds (on my part) we had a good laugh over it. When we graduated from Jr. Hi. and did Pomp and Circumstance I remember walking to the music and looking at the back of Bart's head he was first in line and I was second. Bart if you're listening, if I reach the gates of heaven come and get me.....I'll gladly walk behind you once again.
Mike Lindsay
I was very saddened to read about Bart's passing a couple of years ago. I always thought of Bart as a BIG lovable guy who wanted to get along with everyone and participate wherever he thought he could contribute. Even in 7th-grade, because of his size, Bart was a natural candidate for the basketball team. Likewise, with his size entering high school, football seemed to be a natural fit, but he had to prove himself over the next couple of years, as did we all. During our senior year, I played guard on the football team. In several games and during practice, I played alongside Bart or alongside Mike Grace. Either way, it was always fun to have either one of these guys helping me push the opponents down the field. On the other side of the coin, during practice, it was frequently my job to face Bart or Mike as opponents on the line of scrimmage (or in blocking drills). This was not so much fun for me. Bart was much larger and heavier than I was, and going against him was like trying to move a school bus with it's brakes on. Mike was not as large as Bart, but blocking him was no picnic either. Mike was agile, strong, and able to manhandle most opponents making them (me) look like $#!+. Regardless, I actually cherish those memories.
Following graduation from high school, I ran into Bart on a number of occasions. To me he was always the outgoing, gentle giant of a man. I will always remember Bart with a smile on my face.
Paul Quistgard
Barton and I grew up as friends and playmates together in Santa Rosa and our adventures over the years were many. From Scouts through high school football we had a life intertwined. After graduation we fell out of touch until about 6 years ago when we found each other both living in the Northwest. He and I visited each other several times then and often talked by phone. We had a hundred great stories to tell each other about the intervening years. He loved to drive down to Santa Rosa every once in awhile from his home near Gig Harbor (close to Tacoma) and visit with his old high school buddies and football teammates over a beer or two. Bart was semi retired then and worked part-time as a window dressings installer around the greater Seattle area. He had a huge old black lab that adored him. All of a sudden he left the Northwest and his girlfriend there to move to the Benicia / Martinez area in California where he landed a sales position with a local company. At the same time he gave his beloved dog to one of his daughters since he could not keep it in the small apartment he was renting. I spoke with him by phone there a few times and he seemed upbeat but vague as to why he had made that move. A couple of years earlier Bart had told me that he had been living with an on-going heart condition for a long while. Within a month or so of his moving to California he had a heart attack and died. Obviously I have many fond memories of Barton. He was a big and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor who greatly valued his friends and family. I think about him often and miss him in my life.
Suzanne Griewe (Smith)
Bart was a wonderful friend in high school. I doubled dated with him and Carol a few times. He introduced me to his hunky cousin on a date! lol... I always looked forward to seeing him at the Polenta Feeds with his family. And, keeping up with him on Facebook. I was so sad, as he was a wonderful, friendly man.
Ed Hanson
I guess it's my turn to reflect on Bart. It's funny how petty we as teenagers can be. When we were in Jr. Hi. I remember him in a totally different way than the rest of the classmates. We all know the Bart was big and tall and I knew it most of all. Several reunions ago I saw Bart and told him how much I disliked him in Jr. Hi. beacuse he was a half inch taller than me. Bart was the tallest at SRJH and I was second tallest. He told me he had no idea I felt that way. Time healing all wounds (on my part) we had a good laugh over it. When we graduated from Jr. Hi. and did Pomp and Circumstance I remember walking to the music and looking at the back of Bart's head he was first in line and I was second. Bart if you're listening, if I reach the gates of heaven come and get me.....I'll gladly walk behind you once again.