Richard Louis "Dick" Bartholomew

1938 - 2023

Richard "Dick" Louis Bartholomew

1938 ~ 2023

Salt Lake City, Utah-Richard "Dick" Louis Bartholomew passed away the evening of March 3, 2023 of causes primarily incident to age.

Dick was born in Salt Lake City on February 28, 1938 to Moran "Pat" Bartholomew, a house painter, and Bessie Lemmon Bartholomew, mother and homemaker. Like many of his ancestors before him, Dick lived his life in the shadow of Mt. Olympus, and his grandkids are now 8th generation Utahns. He had a rich, resourceful, and rewarding life spent primarily between Emigration and Little Cottonwood Canyons.

Dick had an idyllic childhood growing up on his grandfather's Holladay farm, and while material wealth was in short supply, he enjoyed a multitude of riches in the form of family togetherness. Much time was spent playing sandlot ball games and the pursuit of Bonneville Cutthroat trout on the calm waters of Big Cottonwood Creek.

Dick was a member of the first class to attend Olympus High School excelling as a three-sport athlete. While there he had only one date, but it was with the Homecoming Queen, Jacqueline Goodman, who would become his loving wife of over 63 years.

Throughout his life, Dick enjoyed many passions, one of those being sports. While at Olympus, he was named Most Valuable Athlete of his Senior Class and went on to play football and baseball at the U. Sports continued to be an important aspect of his life as his family grew. Dick was a decades long season ticket holder to both the Utes and the Jazz, and at different times, a member of Alpine, Hidden Valley, and Willow Creek Country Clubs. Masters Sunday, the Kentucky Derby, and the World Series were cherished events at Grandpa and Grandma's house. He always had either a Red Sox or Yankees hat readily available, depending upon which of the grandkids were coming over.

Another of Dick's passions was business. While at the U, Dick went to work for a local food broker in town learning the grocery business and developing relationships in the industry. In 1962, he started his own company, Bartholomew Brokerage, and began to attract clients and hire new employees. From a baseline of zero, he grew the business and acquired companies in Idaho, Montana, and Nevada. The combined business became Performance Systems Incorporated, one of the largest and most premiere brokerage companies in the Intermountain West. He represented hundreds of the top grocery brands and cherished life-long relationships with his clients and customers. He was also ever proud of the hundreds of wonderful people who chose to work at Performance. There are many key people who helped build the business, as well as create wonderful memories and fun times throughout the years. Dick mentioned many times, that without these talented people, he could not have done anything close to what he accomplished. At the end of his career, Dick was inducted into the Utah Food Industry Hall of Fame.

After retirement, Dick became passionate about non-business activities like painting, health and exercise and gardening. He started painting primarily in oils and pencil, winning multiple ribbons at the State Fair and sharing his talents with friends and family. He began exercising vigorously and adapted a strict vegan diet that he kept for over 20 years, although he still enjoyed his occasional Macanudo and adult beverage. His rose garden was his pride and joy with over 100 beautiful bushes that he tended to diligently. Many hours of work and thorn sticks were manifested in the pursuit of that perfect rose. He also fulfilled his goal of being the last person alive who never owned a cell phone or walked into a Walmart.

Dick's final and most enduring passion was his family. He was raised with cherished aunts, uncles and cousins on the farm. Dick was preceded in death by his mother, father, and brother, Tom. Dick and Jackie raised three children, Brian (Marcey), Brenda Huval (Tim), and Brooke Soto (Jim), and have seven grandchildren: Derek, Ben (Megan) and Bailey Bartholomew, Lorenzo and Dante Soto, and Savannah and Skyler Huval. Dick was a tremendous father and grandfather, and became a valued advisor and trusted figure to all the children and grandchildren. Each will carry many favored memories of jokes told, lessons learned, and imparted pearls of wisdom.

His final wishes were to be cremated, and the family will hold a small gathering at a later date.

Dick will be sorely missed and fondly remembered!