Barton Kaufman

Met Bart in 1959 on our freshman baseball team and continued to play baseball with him for the next four years. I witnessed his baseball abilities including the 2nd leading hitter in the Big Ten in 1961. I knew Bart as a strong supporter of IU athletics, especially baseball, and his remarkable memory of the history of IU´s sports. Recently I had breakfast with Bart in Indy in Nashville for a great grandchild ceremony.
A kind professional wonderful person who will be missed by many including me. A great loss.
Judy,my deepest sympathy to you and your family at this time.
Bill Elyea

My father, Clarence Hynes, CLU would often mention Bart Kauffmann as a role model and as one of the finest professionals in the Life Insurance business. My condolences to the Kauffmann Family.

In the summer of 1979, Mr. Kaufman was my baseball coach in summer league at North Central. He bought our team sharp uniforms styled after the Dodgers kit and asked us to get matching blue spikes. A few games in, he noticed I was still wearing my worn black spikes. When he asked why, I told him I was headed to IU in the fall and couldn´t afford new ones. He asked my shoe size, and at the next game, he called me over to his car and handed me a brand-new pair. Shocked, I thanked him, and he just said cut my grass once or twice this summer.

For some reason, that never happened, but I never forgot his kindness. It inspired me to pay it forward. And many years later I had the opportunity to do so and purchased a few sets of youth hockey equipment for my community's local youth center. As he was the inspiration for my giving, I felt compelled to share that story with him.

I managed to track him down in Arizona and sent him an email. I first apologized for never cutting his grass, then told him how his gesture 30 years earlier had directly led to 20 kids having the chance to play hockey in a small town in Massachusetts. His response was of course gracious, the specifics of which I hold dear to this day.

I knew him only for a summer, but it was long enough for me to understand that he was a great man.

Godspeed, Coach Kaufman.

Met Bart in 1995 at my first Dodger fantasy camp and played baseball with him for 14 years at camps. He always tried to meet us at Dodgers spring training every March when we were there. Bart as far as I knew had one of the very first Segway and insisted I take it for a spin around Dodgertown. We were lucky to spend some time with him last spring and had no idea his health was an issue. He will be missed by the many campers who were able to meet him over the years at camp. RIP my friend.

We are so sad and heartbroken at the loss of this amazing man who made such an impact on our lives. We will never forget the love he had for us. We will miss him more than words can express. The father and grandfather who chose us.

So sorry to hear, sincere thoughts and condolences to the entire family. Throughout the years, I painted many pumpkins for family members and will always remember his stops at our Market while he was riding his bike. My thoughts are with you. Judy Wilson

Emily,
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family for strength and comfort during this difficult time.

Janie Usab