Bartlett, David L.
David L. Bartlett, age 76, of Hamden, passed away at his home October 12, 2017. David was the husband of Carol F. (Gosnell) Bartlett. Born in Syracuse, New York on February 16, 1941, he was the son of the late Gene Bartlett & Jean (Kenyon) Bartlett. David is also survived by his sons, Jonah Kenyon Bartlett & his wife Elizabeth of New York, and Benjamin Gosnell Bartlett & his finance Yumi on California; sisters, Marion VanArsdel & Margaret Bartlett both of MA and his brothers, Randy Bartlett of MA & Steven Bartlett of NY.
David was a beloved member of the Yale community. After he completed his bachelor's degree at Swarthmore (1963), he earned his M.Div. at YDS (1967) and his Ph.D. in New Testament at Yale University (1972). He was ordained in the American Baptist Church the same year that he graduated from YDS. David's training as a minister and scholar became the defining feature of his career: he was a pastor and a professor. These were not separate careers, but a single career that integrated the two roles. Harry Adams, one of David's professors at YDS and later a colleague and friend, captured David's life when he said: "he used his learning to enhance the work of parish ministry." David did this by serving both churches and schools. He was the senior minister of the University Baptist Church in Minneapolis (1973-1975), the senior minister of the Hyde Park Union Church in Chicago (1976-1979), the senior minister of the Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Chicago (1981-1987), and a theologian in residence for the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta (2011-2016). He was also an exceptional professor. While serving at churches he held part-time appointments at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (1973-1975), the Divinity School at the University of Chicago (1976-1979), and the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley (1983-1987). He was a full-time member of the faculty for a number of schools including the American Baptist Seminary of the West and Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley (1970-1972), the Divinity School of the University of Chicago (1980-1981), Union Theological Seminary in Richmond (1987-1990), and Yale Divinity School (1990-2005), from which he retired as the Lantz Professor Emeritus. He could not, however, stay retired, and soon joined Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta as a Distinguished Professor of New Testament. The integration of scholarship and ministry is also evident in his publications. David was the author or editor of nearly twenty books, more than fifty articles in publications oriented toward ministry, and countless other shorter pieces in various publications.
Friends may attend his Memorial Service on Wednesday, October 18 at 11:00 a.m. at the Marquand Chapel, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511. The service will be available on Livestream for those who cannot attend. His interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Yale Divinity School, c/o David Bartlett Scholarship Fund, 409 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06511. Arrangements are in care of Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden. To view full obituary, or to send a condolence to his family please see: www.beecherandbennett.com.