John William "Jack" Bartlett's Obituary
Dr. John William Bartlett, Jr., beloved husband, father, brother, friend, mentor, tennis player, Florida Gator, world traveler, practical joker, wearer of Mickey Mouse watches, silly neckties, clown noses, and loud shoes, and the favorite pediatrician of thousands of kids and parents who called him, simply, “Dr. Jack,” passed away on Monday, February 15, 2016 of complications from pneumonia. He was 73.Jack was born in St. Albans West Virginia on November 9, 1942 to Martha Maude Stewart and John William Bartlett, Sr. When his father’s B-52 was shot down in WWII, his mother and grandmothers Dulcie Bartlett and Elizabeth Stewart moved to Sarasota, where Ringling Brothers circus and the Red Sox trained. (If you look real close, you can spot the three of them in a crowd shot of the film The Greatest Show on Earth.) Martha married Mac Parker and they had two children, Peg and Doug; they lived together in Sarasota until Jack went to the University of Florida in 1960. These early years formed Jack’s most unique and remarkable qualities: his love of family, both biological and blended, given and made; his love of Florida and its sunshine, beaches, and beauty; and his love of the circus and its celebration of the ridiculousness, joy, and wonder of life.Jack started medical school at the J. Hillis Miller Health Center at the University of Florida in 1964, he interned at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami from 1968-69, and then returned to Gainesville where he was Chief Resident in Pediatrics from 1969-71. He served as Chief Resident in Pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, and settled in Fort Myers in 1972. A tireless advocate for children’s health, Jack served on numerous committees for the protection of children, and maintained a 43-year pediatric practice in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Lehigh Acres, where he cared, saved, and positively impacted the lives of three generations of families. The recent outpouring of love and support from his partners and practice reflect the feeling of “family” that Jack helped create at Physicians Primary Care. In 2013, he was recognized by Healthy Start for his tremendous contribution to children’s health with a Lifetime Achievement Award. A Facebook page originally designed to keep family and friends posted on his condition during his recent illness within hours had over 2500 likes and hundreds of comments and testimonials detailing the love, gratitude, and respect from family after family, each with their own story of how Dr. Jack made a difference in their lives.Jack not only had a passion for his career, but he had a deep love and commitment to family. Jack and his wife Jeannine shared a love that endured almost two decades. Together they enjoyed a love of travel, from cruising the Caribbean, hiking in the Canadian Rockies, whale watching and salmon fishing in Alaska (even though “the big one that got away” left him waist deep in icy cold water!), to sightseeing in Paris and Ireland. Most recently, they took the trip of a lifetime, cruising the River Danube through Prague and Austria. The couple always made time for family, as well, spending many summers and Christmas in Tennessee at their family cabin, building memories hiking, rafting, and boating with their children, grandchildren and extended family members.Jack has two daughters Jami Bartlett and Mindy Bartlett from a previous marriage, and with his wife Jeannine, he has three “bonus” children Jared Mosley, Tyler Mosley, and Emily Mosley, who the couple raised together from the time they were small children. When he and Jeannine began dating, his daughters were already in college and Jeannine’s children were ages 2, 5, and 7. Jeannine knew that a marriage with such small children would be a life-changing event for him, so when he proposed she simply asked him to choose a lifestyle: “Ritz Carlton or Burger King?” He quickly chose “Burger King!” and the rest was history. This story sums up the kind of man he was, his of love of children, family, and the simpler things in life.Jami, Jack’s oldest daughter, remembers her father as her first and favorite storyteller, a man whose life and vocation were so intermingled that every single day—with its patients, colleagues, family, dinners, conversations, sports, and movies—grew seamlessly into the next, building a life story whose richness and variation were deeper and more meaningful than anyone could imagine. Mindy, Jack’s younger daughter, remembers watching the Gators with with her dad, bonding over sports like tennis and basketball—he erected a hoop in every house they lived in, and never said “No” to a chance to play—and, with her partner Dominic, cherishes those moments he spent hanging out with their own kids, Bodhi, Teagan, and Ridley, who cherished their “papa’s” stories and games, as well as his unending patience and attention. Mindy’s love of kids was instilled by her father—she followed his example when deciding to become a teacher, and modeled her teaching an parenting style on his own gift for listening—truly listening—to children, and valuing what they have to say—and teach—to us. Jack was always a grown-up who was especially attuned to kids.Jack was a true role model to all blended families. It is often the exception that a step-father has a truly loving and caring relationship with his step children. In this case, the love and respect between he and his step children (all three of them) could not have been any stronger. It was a common sight to walk in to his house and see him watching football with his step-sons Jared and Tyler, arms around each other’s shoulders, high-fiving and yelling at the TV together. It was also not uncommon for him to have an afternoon of tennis or a night out for dinner with his step daughter Emily. The love and respect between Jack and his step-children was truly undying. This again is a tribute to the caring, loving, and kind person he was. He raised them as his own without a drop of hesitation. Tennis was a lifelong passion that Dr. Bartlett loved. He shared this with his youngest daughter Emily, often encouraging her, hitting with her, and supporting her efforts at matches and tournaments. He could not have been more proud when she signed to play college tennis last fall.Jack positively impacted the lives of so many including his family, friends, and colleagues. Doug, Jack’s younger brother, remembers Jack at a young age, helping him onto a set of monkey bars and teaching him to play catch; now, years later, Doug’s son Rian, a soldier and a medic, remembers Jack for his leadership, caregiving, and encouragement.Jack was deeply loved by his friends as well, most recently he has been playing tennis in Gateway with a very special group of friends. Again, the outpouring of love and support from this group made it evident that Dr. Bartlett was a valued and cherished member. From the daily phone calls, fund collections, and visits to the house with food and drink, the thoughtfulness and support has been overwhelming.Visitation will be held 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, February 19, 2016 at First Assembly of God, 4701 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers, FL 33919. Funeral Ceremonies will be 11:00 am, Saturday, February 20, 2016 at First Assembly of God, 4701 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers, FL 33919. Entombment will follow Saturday’s services in Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33907.An expanded obituary is available on Jack’s tribute page at www.fortmyersmemorial.com or his Facebook memorial page, Dr. Bartlett’s Well Wishers. Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home is serving the family.
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