The Bob We Know & Love

April 23, 1959- February 12, 2024


On the day Bob was born, April 23, 1959, the azalea bush in the front yard at his home at Newark, NJ bloomed. 


He grew up on All Breeze Farm in Bethlehem Township, where he learned how to fix anything with a motor and how to love the soil. Bob was the youngest of three, raised by two loving parents. His mother was an editor and teacher, his father a journalist. His father’s love for sports and the outdoors had a great impact on Bob’s life. When Bob entered North Hunterdon his father would park his VW bus at the top of the hill routinely to watch Bob play football. Sadly, when Bob was only 15 years old, his father passed away. Bob never stopped missing him. 


But Bob lived to turn bare branches into blooms.  The first branch bloomed in 1975, as he was a junior in high school and the kicker for the varsity football team. The team was 7-0 when the quarterback broke his collarbone. Bob, the backup quarterback, led the team through three final games to a 10-0 season, a state championship, and a North Hunterdon record that put the team in the NHHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. The world saw firsthand the results of Bob’s superhuman ability to believe in the impossible. A local headline reported:

“Bob Bartnett: Not Ready to Leap Tall Buildings–Yet.”


Bob attended Lafayette College where he studied Government & Law and developed an aptitude for American political history, a passion he shared with his mother. Following his 1981 graduation, Bob balanced work in commercial real estate and returning to the family farm. He also became a volunteer OC for the North Warren High School football team.


Another branch bloomed here, as Bob took out his cape and learned to leap. He began his role as coach and father-figure to generations of young athletes. At North Warren, they named him “Coach Sweetness”. When his first two children were born—Erin and Patrick—he brought them to every practice. They saw their father from their early years demonstrate what it means to be part of a team, to practice what you care about and to truly believe.


When his children began to play sports themselves, Bob was front and center as he transformed into a lacrosse coach for the Bethlehem Warriors, a basketball coach at Immaculate Conception, and a football coach for the North Hunterdon Junior Lions. He showed every team how to play “all four quarters,” how to follow through, how to say “good game” even after defeat, and how to celebrate a victory. The North Hunterdon Junior Lions became his home for more than 20 years as he mentored hundreds of young athletes. And Bob welcomed another son, Andreas, who saw Bob model what it means to be a loyal, loving, and generous member of your community.


Bob remained dedicated to the All Breeze his family farm which he and his family preserved for future generations. It was more than just blooms—Bob also knew how to grow family roots. He adored his wife, Vici, and his children, Erin, Patrick, and Andreas. He lived for any moment with Vici, weekends with the whole family, a Sunday at Elk Mountain, and an hour on the back porch watching the sun set on the horse pasture. He was generous with his love and his joy. 


Bob was a storyteller, which makes his story impossible to tell without him. How to capture his big hands held wide showing this is a huge deal? His blue eyes lighting up just before the punch line? The ripple and boom of his infectious laughter?


Bob’s branches are empty now. But Bob has taught us how to look up, how to believe in the impossible, and how to make it grow.

The Bob We Know & Love

April 23, 1959 - February 12, 2024

Bob’s branches are empty now. But Bob has taught us how to look up, how to believe in the impossible, and how to make it grow.  May we always remember the joy that was Bob.

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On the day Bob was born, April 23, 1959, the azalea bush in his home's front yard bloomed. 


He grew up on All Breeze Farm in Bethlehem Township, where he learned to fix anything with a motor and to love the stubborn soil. Bob was the youngest of three, raised by two loving parents. His mother was an editor and teacher, his father a journalist. His father’s love for sports and the outdoors had a great impact on Bob.  In his first two years at North Hunterdon, his father would park his VW bus at the top of the hill routinely to watch Bob play football, as his polio prohibited him from walking to the field.  Sadly, his father passed away when Bob was just 15.  Bob never stopped missing him. 


But Bob lived to turn bare branches into blooms. 


The first branch bloomed when, as a junior in high school he was the kicker for the varsity football team. The team was 7-0 when the quarterback broke his collarbone. Bob, the backup quarterback, led the team thru three games to a 10-0 season, a state championship, and a record that put the team in the NHHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. The world saw firsthand the results of Bob’s superhuman ability to believe in the impossible. A local headline aptly reported: “Bob Bartnett: Not Ready to Leap Tall Buildings – Yet.”


Bob attended Lafayette College where he studied Government & Law and developed an aptitude for American political history, a passion he shared with his mother. Following his 1981 graduation, Bob balanced work in commercial real estate with returning to the family farm. He also became a volunteer OC for the North Warren High School football team.


Another branch bloomed here, as Bob took out his cape and learned to leap. He began his role as coach and father-figure to generations of young athletes. At North Warren, they named him “Coach Sweetness”. When his first two children were born—Erin and Patrick—he brought them to every practice. They saw their father demonstrate from their early years what it means to be part of a team, to practice what you care about and to truly believe.


When his children began to play sports themselves, Bob was front and center,  transforming into a lacrosse coach for the Bethlehem Warriors, a basketball coach at Immaculate Conception, and a football coach for the NHHS Junior Lions. He showed every team how to play “all four quarters,” how to follow through, how to say “good game” even after defeat, and how to celebrate victories.  The NHHS Junior Lions became his home for more than 20 years as he guided young athletes. Bob also welcomed another son, Andreas, who saw Bob model what it means to be a loyal, loving, and generous member of a community.


Bob remained dedicated to the All Breeze his family farm and its preservation for future generations. He sprouted more than just blooms—Bob also knew how to grow family roots. He adored his wife, Vici, and his children, Erin, Patrick, and Andreas. He lived for time with Vici, weekends with the whole family, a Sunday at Elk Mountain, and an hour on the back porch watching the sun set on the horse pasture. He was generous with his love and his joy. 


Bob was a storyteller, which makes his story impossible to tell without him. How to capture his big hands held wide showing this is a huge deal? His blue eyes lighting up just before the punch line? The ripple and boom of his infectious laughter?

The Bob Bartnett

Memorial Scholarship


The Bob Bartnett

Memorial Scholarship

The Bob Bartnett Memorial Scholarship will be awarded each year to a graduating senior from North Hunterdon who demonstrates a commitment to their community with behavior akin to the role model behavior Bob showed us, an unselfish dedication to the betterment of others. 


Our goal is to both honor Bob's legacy of giving, and to foster its continuity.  We're establishing this scholarship to inspire our youth to similar behavior and to reward them for doing so.  The dollars to be awarded by the scholarship and the date of the first award have not yet been defined. When they are, it will be announced on this memorial site.


Please click here to make an online tax-deductible  donation to the scholarship fund.  Thank you! 

Bob Through The Years In Photos

The Wonder Years | High School | Raising A Family | Coach Bartnett | Bob and Vici  |  Bob Being Bob

The Wonder Years

An Idyllic Childhood On A Farm In Hunterdon County

High School

A Coming-of-Age Mosaic from Frosh to State Champion BMOC at NHRHS

Raising A Family

A Dad Zone Where Commitment Took The Lead And Love Was The Main Event

Coach Bartnett

He Inspired Excellence In Sports and Life For Hundreds of Young Athletes

Bob & Vici

A Once-In-A-Lifetime Love Story

Bob Being Bob

Joy, Commitment, Intensity and Love At The Center Of All He Did

Bobisms

His Words of Guidance Will Always Remind Us of Bob

The Tributes Are Many

Bob was a good man. Good to the boys, good to the coaches and good to the families. He's one of those coaches that helped shape our boys and who they will remember always. We're glad they got the chance to play for him.

Rest in Peace, Bob. 

Kevin & Kieran Sturges

I had the pleasure of coaching with Bob for both football and lacrosse, and I always admired his unwavering dedication and love for the boys! He truly gave all of himself to help mold these young men into the best athletes they could be, but even more importantly, the best people they could be. We are all better for knowing Bob.

Jason Decowski

Coach Bartnett was committed to bringing out the best in all of his players with intensity and purpose. Bob took the responsibility seriously, and used coaching as a way to create better people. 

Randy Morton

Bobby, I will always remember your smile and that great laugh. I will remember you my friend! 1975 Lions State Champs 10-0 FOREVER! RIP

Paul Tomasello

I had the privilege to play for, and coach with, Coach Bartnett for many years. He was an outstanding coach, mentor, and dear friend. He exemplified a powerful quote about coaching, "A good coach can change a game, a great coach can impact a life." His knowledge, his enthusiasm, and his ability to reach individuals and mold them into better people was unlike any other coach I've known. He always went above and beyond to help in any way possible.  He will be dearly missed.

Dave Garrison

It’s amazing how many players, families and coaches Coach Bartnett impacted. He never missed an opportunity to help, no matter how big or small the task - all that mattered was making things better for athletes on and off the field. He was always there when anyone needed him. I’ll miss the phone calls each week to discuss the current and upcoming seasons and the conversations during equipment handout and return. At season's end, he’d always tell his athletes “Come back next year bigger, stronger and faster.” We will ensure that his legacy lives on! 

Mark Saharic

Bob was a great friend.  We shared many adventures together:  trout fishing the Musky, hunting pheasants on our Grandfather's farms, and playing sports (especially football) together.  He was a compassionate, caring person with a really great sense of humor. He was also an eternal optimist. In our circle of friends-Bob made the group whole, whether it was a weekend volleyball game, grabbing a slice of pizza at Miller's or just hanging out. He had a way of bringing out the best in people. Bob was also a fierce competitor. Our Lehigh - Lafayette rivalry continued long after our playing days ended. Bob, if there are trout streams in heaven and I think there must be, save me a place. Love you brother! You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Ron Witte

I was fortunate enough to have known Coach Bartnett and to have played for him.  He always believed in me and always pushed me to be the best I could be. Coach was always there telling me "It’s going to happen!". After playing for Coach Bartnett, he showed up at every game of mine - coaching and cheering me on.  Unfortunately he won’t be on the sidelines anymore.  But I know he will be up above watching down on me as I will be looking up at him every time I score.

Cookie Desiderio

A great guy! He was in coaching for kids. He wanted to teach them the game and provide a great experience. Simple but extremely effective.

Mark Martini

During one of our many conversations, Coach Bartnett once said “it takes a village.” He didn’t only focus on teaching our kids football….he played an important role in transforming them into respectful, hard-working young men. We will forever be grateful for that.

Gregg Schenakel

After coaching football and lacrosse with Bob for quite a few years, one of the things I admired and tried to emulate was the way he built lasting relationships with the kids. Many kids would come to our practices after they had moved on. They all loved to see Bob.

Dan Rochelle

Bob Bartnett was an outstanding coach and an even better man who cared deeply about every single one of his players and coaches. He helped them not only grow tremendously as players but as young men as well.

Chris Nealon

Thank You For Your Donation.