Lee F. Bartlett

Dr. Lee F. Bartlett Jr., 93
WORCESTER - Dr. Lee Farnsworth Bartlett Jr., 93, died Sunday morning, December 16, 2012 at St. Vincent Hospital after a brief illness.
His wife of 40 years Mary A. (O'Neil) Bartlett, a retired Worcester teacher, died in 1985.
He leaves a son Rev. Lee F. Bartlett III of Worcester, a daughter Ann M. Bartlett-Kelly and her husband Brian C. Kelly of Sandwich, two grandsons, Liam B. Kelly and his wife Amy of Brighton, and Padraic B. Kelly of Chicago, and two granddaughters, Aislinn B. Kelly of Manhattan and Roisin M.B. Kelly of Sandwich. A grandson Rory B. Kelly died in 1999.
Dr. Bartlett was born in Worcester, son of Lee F. and Nora T. (Fitzpatrick) Bartlett. He lived in Worcester all his life.
He was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II serving with Military Intelligence in the Aleutian Islands.
He attended Worcester public schools and graduated in 1937 from North High School. In 1942, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross. He earned a Master of Education degree from Worcester State University in 1949 and a Doctor of Education degree from Calvin Coolidge College, Boston, in 1958. He also did graduate studies at Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Boston University and Fitchburg State University.
Dr. Bartlett began his long career in education in 1945 as a teacher and then a principal in the Auburn Public Schools. In 1950, he became the Guidance Counselor at the Worcester High School of Commerce. From 1958 to 1966, he was the Director of School Public Relations for Worcester. He was appointed Director of Noninstructional Personnel in 1966. He retired in June of 1970 after 34 years in education and 29 years with the Worcester Public Schools.
In his retirement, Dr. Bartlett continued to share his many gifts and talents amongst both his community and extended family.
He was a member of Our Lady of the Rosary Church where he was a Lector and Eucharistic Minister.
He was coordinator for New England activities of the Co-Workers of Mother Teresa of Calcutta organization, and was a 70 year member of the Knights of Columbus Alhambra Council No. 88.
Up until his recent illness, he was performing weekly throughout Worcester County as the director of the Greendale Retired Men's Chorus and director/violinist of the Trinity Symphonette "Big Band". He was formerly a member of "Joe's Friends" a sextette of retirees who entertained seniors in the Worcester area.
Dr. Bartlett was the current chairman of the Worcester Memorial Auditorium committee, and a member of Worcester's Commission on Elder Affairs.
He was a past president of the Massachusetts Retired Teachers Association and the Worcester and Southern Worcester County Retired Teachers Association.
He was past president of the Retired Officers Association Bay State Council of Chapters, and its Worcester County Chapter. He was a Past Commander of the Brittan Square American Legion Post.
Dr. Bartlett was a member of the Holy Cross Alumni Association from whom he received their In Hoc Signo Award in 2007. He was past president of the Holy Cross Club of Greater Worcester, current Class Correspondent for the Holy Cross Class of 1942, and member of Family Services of Central Massachusetts. He was a member of the Retired Men's Club of Greendale and participated in its golf leagues. He was an instructor of PATS classes for the Central Mass. Safety Council and a teacher at Wendell Phillips Parker Nature Training School.
Those who knew him best agree that Da was a true gentleman, scholar, and hero. He wore a tie to mow the lawn. He loved life more than most have ever known. He was an inspiration and inimitable example. Our Da greeted all with a "Hip, hip hooray" and concluded each meeting with "Peace." And ask him how he felt, he'd respond "Tip top."
The funeral will be Friday, December 21 from the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester, with a Mass at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 25 Fales St., Worcester. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday, December 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Herscot Center for Tuberous Sclerosis Research, 175 Cambridge St., Suite 340, Boston 02114 or to support the Music Dept. at the College of the Holy Cross, in care of the Development Office, 1 College St., Worcester 01610.