DR. CHARLES I. BARTFELD

BARTFELD DR. CHARLES I. BARTFELD Dr. Charles I. Bartfeld, Professor Emeritus at American University, died peacefully at his home in Bethesda, Maryland on February 18, 2016, surrounded by his family. Dr. Bartfeld''s life took many unexpected turns. Born in Vienna, Austria in 1921, he immigrated alone to Palestine in 1938 where he was joined a year later by his parents and brother, and later his sister. He attended an agricultural school, Mikve Israel, where he concentrated his studies on the dairy. He became an accomplished cheese maker - a skill he enjoyed throughout his life. While still at Mikve, he was inducted into the Haganah. During WWII, he served with the British forces (RAOC) in North Africa. In the British Army, his photographic skills were recognized and he became an official photographer for many important occasions. Upon discharge from the British Army in 1946, he returned to Tel Aviv and quickly joined the Israel Defense Forces, where he later played an active role in the defense of the newly established State of Israel. He was among the first troops to enter Beersheva as the officer in charge of establishing the supply depots and managing the transportation of food and supplies. Before embarking on an academic career, he served in a civilian capacity as head of the Budget and Finance Department, Ordnance Services Directorate of the Israel Defense Forces. Always seeking to improve his skills, he moved to the United States where he became the first person accepted into the graduate school of Columbia University without either a high school or an undergraduate degree. He obtained an MBA from Columbia in 1961, and a PhD in 1969. He joined the faculty at American University in 1966, where he taught Management Science and Operations Research in the Kogod College of Business for 25 years. Dr. Bartfeld was active in many professional organizations and published extensively in his field. The most satisfying aspects of his years at American University were his relationships with his students, who looked to him for both professional and personal advice. Many retained close relationships with him, both after their graduation and after his retirement. After retirement, he found great satisfaction as a volunteer docent at the American Museum of History and Technology, as well as through his creative and whimsical pottery work at Glen Echo Park in Bethesda. Dr. Bartfeld''s devotion to his family was the guiding force in his life. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ruth; three children, Esther Bartfeld (Seattle, WA), Judi Bartfeld (Madison, WI), and Daniel Bartfeld (New York City); son-in-law Roger Wynne; daughter-in-law Beverly Bartfeld; grandchildren Jess, Maya, Jonathan, and Bella; as well as nieces and nephews in Israel and in the United States. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 22, 2016 at Temple Sinai, 3100 Military Road NW, Washington, DC. Shiva will be observed at the family home on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jewish National Fund; The Holocaust Museum; AU Center for Israel Studies, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, N.W. Washington, DC 20016; or to an organization of your choice.A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 22, 2016 at Temple Sinai, 3100 Military Road NW, Washington, DC. Shiva will be observed at the family home on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jewish National Fund; The Holocaust Museum; AU Center for Israel Studies, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, N.W. Washington, DC 20016; or to an organization of your choice.