SCOTT BARTKY

Scott Bartky, not many individuals engage in such a diversity of professional jobs over their lifetime as did Chicago native Scott Bartky. His first love was computers, which he amazingly demonstrated by building his first computer in 1948 at age 16. After earning a Bachelors degree in Physics from the Illinois Institute of Technology, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Scott chose to use his Fulbright to earn a Master of Science at the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana, as this was the university at the forefront in computer science. He excelled from there and became a much sought after troubleshooter in many different industries. Always loving a new challenge, he prided himself in never doing the same job twice. This took him to solving engineering and electronic problems on oil rigs, mines, breweries, hospitals, just to name a few. One of the most challenging jobs was facilitating the first electronic transmission of the New York Times. Over time he was able to claim over 40 patents in his name as well as being a winner of the prestigious IR 100 Industrial Research & Development Reward. After returning home from a three-year assignment in Cambridge, England, working on the development of ink jet printer technology for which he received several patents, he changed careers and established a name in the bead world. Instrumental in this drastic change was his wife Elisabeth, who had been offered to purchase a jewelry supply business. Soon they started importing tons of glass beads from the Czech Republic, supplying them to bead stores and artists. His creative mind always working on improving things, he developed bead crimping pliers for artists, protecting his invention with two more patents and making a sizable impact in the bead industry. Scott Bartky loved the business, which gave him a creative outlet in the artist world. He would have excelled as an artist, but his early notions had been suppressed by his parents who wanted to see their son to establish his name in the field of academics. Being from a long line of teachers he had a rare innate ability to present all subjects at the level appropriate to the student, from beginner to expert. Scott's outstanding unfailing optimism, loving, kind, engaging and positive attitude carried him through life and in his later years of illness. Known for his generosity and kindness, he was always available and eager to teach and disseminate his rich knowledge. Never letting himself dragged down by pain and discomfort and surviving 6 cancers, he finally became a dialysis patient in February of 2008. As was his nature, he immediately approached this new health challenge scientifically and designed spread sheets and calculators for his new nutrition requirements and toxic clearance values for his blood. Having lost both kidneys and bladder to cancer this was particularly crucial for survival in addition to making him a very unique patient. He constantly surprised his doctors with his intellect and perseverance combined with a boundless positive attitude. Even as his health kept steadily failing, he never gave up and when asked by one of his specialists during the last week of his life on his mental attitude, he just replied "I will keep on fighting". And so he did, until the health issues became overwhelming and he passed on just after midnight into the new year at the ICU of Northwestern Memorial Hospital with his wife by his side. An inspiration to many he made a lifelong impression on all the people he met. He will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. In addition to his wife Elisabeth, he is survived by his daughter Susan and husband Ernie; his son Alan and wife Gail; his son Brian; three granddaughters; and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be planned for February or March.