John Francis Bartlett

1948 - 2016

John Bartlett, born in 1948, beloved father and friend, went to the other side Nov. 28, 2016. He'll be welcomed there by his parents, Jack and Paula, both teachers here in Fairbanks for many years, and by his brother, James.
John is mourned on this side by his sister, Kate Lacher and husband Bill; his son, James, and wife Cecilie; daughter Jesse and husband Bryan; as well as many friends, artists and patrons of the arts. John leaves two grandchildren, Raven Rose and Una Elva. As the root, so the sprouts, endowed with their grandfather's sweetness of spirit.
He is also survived by his brother's wife, Annette Bartlett; their children, Jameson and Caitlin Bartlett; fiancé Joey Centofanti, as well as Kate and Bill's children, Janna Karnezis and husband Dimitri, and Ben and wife Caitlin Lacher.
John graduated from Lathrop High School in 1966, signed up with the Navy and served on board an aircraft carrier in Vietnam. He was a pipefitter. He slept under the catapult launcher; said he "never heard 'em."
Well, whatever he may have lost in hearing he made up for in sight and insight.
His skills as a carpenter were highly valued at Alaska theaters. He worked at Anchorage Opera and Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre, as well as just about every theatrical venue in our town, making many a stage designer's vision possible during the past 50 years. He collaborated with many artists and craftspeople, was a pleasure to work with and easy to be with.
An unassuming, kind man with a massive bear hug and a ready word of encouragement, praise, and should one ask, an eye popping massage, loosening knots as stubborn as himself; that was John Bartlett.
He had an eye for beauty and proportion, which he expressed in wood, metal, ivory and the occasional well-placed semi-precious stone. His boxes and sculptures are included in the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North Collection, Noel Wien Library, Palace Theatre and homes high and humble. John gave freely of his gifts, as though it would be wrong to do otherwise.
If you wish to attend the life celebration of John F. Bartlett, come to the Palace Theatre at 2 p.m. Jan. 1. We invite you to share a story and listen to some music, so that we may remember John together.
Please visit www.legacy.com/obituaries/newsminer to sign an online guest book.