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Everything Else Bonaire: We lose a BonaireTalker...
Bonaire Talk: Everything Else Bonaire: Archives: Archives 1999 - 2004: Archives - 2002-03-27 to 2002-12-01: We lose a BonaireTalker...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 5:32 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi all,

It's been a traumatic day today. A relatively new friend, but someone who had also become a very good friend, passed away this morning at the St. Francisco Hospital on Bonaire.

Linda and I, and many of you, first met him here on BonaireTalk, before he fulfilled his dream of moving to and living on Bonaire last year.

His name? Tom Bartikoski.

A number of you who have visited this year met Tom at BT BBQs at our house, or at Gibi's. You may have also discussed things with him on-line here on BonaireTalk, as he was a regular poster.

He was a breath of fresh air, and very interested in doing what he could to help Bonaire and various Bonaire non-profit and commercial entities market themselves better to get the recognition they deserved. He had started this effort, only to be halted at a relative young age (early 50s) by an internal disorder which came upon him suddenly.

Linda & I will miss Tom dearly, and there is no doubt Bonaire will too.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 5:45 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our condolances go to all the loved ons Tom has left behind. We wish all of his relatives and friends a lot of strenght with this huge loss.

Angela and Martin

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Domenicali on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 5:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm so sorry to hear about that, Jake. I didn't meet Tom, but would like to offer condolences for your loss and that of all Bonaire.

Sincerely,
Peter

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michelle Mouton on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 5:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's terrible news. I didn't know him either but, like Peter, would like to offer condolences as well.
Michelle

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 6:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our sympathies and condolences to all of you on Bonaire and to Tom's family and friends.

Jake, do you have a photo of Tom you can post? Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 6:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tom was a close friend and one of the most wonderful people I've ever had the opportunity to know. Tom was the older brother of my best friend in high school...but I never met Tom then...he was off to a successful college education by the time I met his brother.

I met Tom a couple of years ago when his wife's (Wendy)father introduced us to him and Wendy. Sharon and I both used to to work for Wendy's dad.

When Wendy's dad heard of our love for scuba, he arranged a lunch here in Minneapolis. At that lunch Tom and Wendy were talking about moving to the Caribbean in 5 years...the big 5 year plan.

We told them to check out Bonaire before they made their final "island home" decision. Well, a few months later we got an email from them...while on Bonaire...Guess what?...they bought a house their first trip down...1/4 mile from ours. Soon the 5 year plan to move to Bonaire became the 1 year plan. THEY DID IT!!!

Tom could not wait to get out of the snow and cold here...his email...nosnow (no snow) says it all. His former co-workers thought nosnow was Papiementu!

Tom loved the Bonaire lifestyle. He dove frequently and I was working with him on his Divemaster certification. Tom was an accomplished diver with 700+ dives in many spots around the world. Yet Tom was so humble and gentle that he frequently gave a kind word to reassure a novice diver, or a tip on how to do something a little differently to an experienced diver. Tom would have been an excellent divemaster and after that...an outstanding instructor.

Tom loved to give. He was a marketing and public relations genius. In the short time he lived on Bonaire he had already started helping many organizations think about how to better market their services and products. Tom was just inducted into Rotary on Bonaire last weekend. He was SO excited about this opportunity to be of service to the community.

I know this is getting long...but I want all the BT regulars to know I loved this man. I'll miss the times we spend diving, talking, and thinking about how to help Bonaire continue to be as great a place as it is.

We arrive back on Bonaire Friday night. I'm looking forward to seeing all of our friends, and getting some great dives in...but without Tom's friendship, sense of humor, and kindness, Bonaire will be a little different for me.

Thanks for reading.

Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 6:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Scott. He sounded like a wonderful and fascinating man. So young. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Lee on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 7:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am so sadedend to hear this. I remember bantering with Tom on BT before he moved to Bonaire, and the day that he posted a picture of a sailing ship and said, oh, this is my view now! He really seemed to be so happy to be living on Bonaire, and living a dream. How is his wife Wendy doing?

A BT tribute to Tom..
profile pic...
cam.jpg

<a href="http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/626/17147.html?#POST43776">Tom's new view</a> scroll down the thread to see it...

Let me look for more...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Lee on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 7:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

oops,
tom's new view

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 8:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. Our prayers and sympathy go out to everyone who knew Tom. Darlene and Tom

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob Liguori on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 9:10 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sorry to hear about Tom. Met him on Turducken Day at the Richters. He came over and introduced himself and told me about moving to Bonaire. He was the kind of guy that you liked immediately and I am saddened by his loss. My condolences to his family and friends. I'm sure Bonaire is poorer without him.
Bob

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise Kacavas on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 10:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Although the sadness of such a loss brings tears to our eyes, always remember the happy memories ... It is through the retelling of the stories of such happy memories that the tears fade and the smiles will return.
Our sincere sympathy, Denise and Ted

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donna M. Gaunt on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 10:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our sincerest condolences to Tom's family and friends. Donna & Michael

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hazel Scharosch on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 11:05 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Very sad news. My sympathy and prayers to Tom's family and friends as well. Hazel

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Meryl Virga on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 11:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Our sympathy to Toms family...a horrible sudden loss! Times like this bring us back to what is really important in life...the people who mean the most to us. If there is anything that the his family needs please pass along our offering of help.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill Sweeney on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 1:01 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm really sorry to hear about this. I'd like to find a way to adequately express to Tom's family and friends my condolences. His recent BT Poll inspired me to publicly wonder on this internet site what it is people love. Tom Bartikoski will not be soon forgotten.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 6:01 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Scott - amen.

I was Tom's sponsor into the Rotary club, and we had a wonderful evening with him last Saturday. I'm trying to get a copy of one of the pictures that was taken of him then, and will post it when I find it.

Here's another image from the archives of Tom. Pictured are Tom's parents, Tom, Tom's wife Wendy, and front and center is Cayman, their chow dog.

Tom & Family

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 7:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here is a picture of Tom I took on our boat as he was working on his Divemaster certification: Tom's Divemaster Photo

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 7:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here is a picture of Tom I took on our boat as he was working on his Divemaster certification: Tom's Divemaster Photo

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Renee Bayes on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 7:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I am relatively new to the board, but I offer my condolences just the same. It's tough to loose a friend - old or new.

Tom's freinds and family are in my prayers.

Renee

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By sherry baker on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 9:34 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

my sympathy and prayers are with Tom's loved ones and friends.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Susan Feldman on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 9:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's too sad! My condolences to his family, and to all his friends.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynde Lee on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 10:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake and Scott, thank you for the wonderful pictures. And Scott, Jake, and Bob thank you for sharing your stories...my condolences to his family and friends.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Candace Epps on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 10:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

That is so sad. Our prayers and thoughts are with all of Tom's family and friends. How is his wife, Wendy, doing? If there is anything at all that we can do, please know that we have offered.
Candace and Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 10:14 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you to all for posting your thoughts and prayers. I leave for Bonaire Friday and will see Wendy on Saturday. I'll be sure to pass all your kind and caring words on to her. She will be comforted by them. Wendy will be fine. She is a strong couragous person who treasured every moment with Tom. They really made sure to make their time together count...and they succeeded.


Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie Hughes on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 12:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

My sympathy goes out to Tom's family and friends..
I e-mailed Tom a few times about his divemastering and other events that occured. I am saddend by this news of his passing, I feel that I have lost a true friend on Bonaire, and will keep him and his family in my prayers. I am truly sorry I never had the chance to meet him personally.. Freddie

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 2:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here's another one of Tom's last public appearance, when he was inducted in to the Bonaire Rotary club last Saturday night.

Rotary - Tom

I also realized that I probably dove with Tom on his last dive - the same dive on which I got my frogfish footage I posted last week - this was Tom's special frogfish that no one else (other than me after the dive) knew about.

Tom actually never got to see The Frogfish Moment - I told him about it Saturday night, and was planning on showing to him this week - he was on the other side of the sponge mass when the frogfish did its things.

Scott - we'll need to do a dive to visit Tom's frogfish when you get here.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 4:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake,
That would have special meaning for me. Tom was so excited about his "find" and was really eager to show them to me this trip.

See you Saturday night!

Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 5:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

It would be my pleasure, Scott. We didn't see the smaller of the two frogfish on our dive together, but perhaps he's still around.

---------

For everyone else who is interested in attending Tom's memorial services, here's the latest information I just received:

In Minneapolis:

Tuesday July 2nd at 3pm, Lakewood Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN. Visitation 1 hour prior to service.

On Bonaire:

Bonaire Memorial Service
Wednesday July 10th at 6pm - 7:30pm (tentative)
Kaya Ruby #23
Bonaire

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 6:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you, everyone, for posting the pics of Tom...brings us a little closer to his spirit and good nature. Our hearts go out to his family and loved ones. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By herman mowery on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 7:28 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jake,

Sorry to hear about the loss. I was not sure who Tom was until I saw his picture and realized that Kathy and myself had the pleasure of meeting his at Gibi's the other week.
Our best wishes to the family.

Herman and Kathy

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Deborah Fulton on Thursday, June 27, 2002 - 9:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Our condolences go out to family and friends. He was obviously loved by so many and we thank you for sharing your memories about him.

Debbie & Bob

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Friday, June 28, 2002 - 9:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The above date/time for the Bonaire memorial service for Tom is now confirmed.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Leif S on Friday, June 28, 2002 - 7:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

May we all be so lucky as to be able to fulfill a dream or two by the time of our passing. For Tom it seems he did, but for not nearly as long as he deserved. RIP Tom.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Josie on Friday, June 28, 2002 - 8:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thank you, Tom, for your inspiration in doing the things that really matter --- and getting away from the snow...

Alan and I send our condolences to Wendy and all Tom's family. We are saddened and our thoughts are with you. Bless you all.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Matt Horn on Monday, July 1, 2002 - 9:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

So many admirable traits it's hard to know where to start. I guess what sums it up best would be to simply say, what a fun person to know! Tom had a wonderful sense of 'play'. If there's an utimate goal in life its to be in a position in which enjoying life is your primary daily achivement. With that being said its abundently appearant that Tom 'won' the game of life in every respect. He was truly a great friend and anyone that can make my sister so immensily happy and laugh out loud so frequently has to be one of my best friends.
Its great so see what everyone has to say here and I know that every word brings some joy to Wendy, Tom's family and all his friends. Thanks for your words.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Christine Davis on Monday, July 1, 2002 - 2:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tom was my boss for 12 years - a third of my life and nearly all of my professional career at Padilla Speer Beardsley Public Relations. Though he had retired to your lovely island a few months ago, we stayed in close contact and he was a constant source of support and advice. Tom was planning to come back to the Cities later this month - his first visit since retiring. We had scheduled a "team meeting" on July 16th to eat, drink and talk smart. He will be greatly missed.

Tom and I used to joke about his deep hatred of snow. I'm a downhill skier and spend a good chunk of my vacation time in the Rockies in the dead of winter. Whenever I left my vacation contact information for my co-workers, I purposely always closed with the phrase - "Think Snow!" - just to get a rise out of Tom. (And it did) Once I tried to convince him that we both were water lovers - he liked his warm and salty and I liked mine frozen and powdery. He didn't buy it. When I saw his "nosnow" e-mail address for the first time I laughed so hard it brought tears to my eyes. I guess if there is any solace in the face of this terrible event, it is that Tom never did have to deal with snow again.

Thank you island friends for bringing great joy to Tom and Wendy. Not many people dream at such a grand level, and fewer still actually pursue their dreams. Tom and Wendy did both in fine fashion. Thank you for being part of that dream.

Christine Davis

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By scott and sharon barlass on Monday, July 1, 2002 - 5:42 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Matt and Christine,
Thanks for posting your thoughts about Tom. I've done 4 dives since I got to Bonaire, and I can't tell you how much I miss Tom. He and I used to point out things of interest on the reef, then get back on the boat and just talk for a couple of hours.

Matt...let's catch a lunch when I'm back in MSP.

Christine...I double dare you to get down to Bonaire and let me convince you why snow is evil! I'll show you Tom's favorite dive sites!!

Scott

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech on Wednesday, July 3, 2002 - 4:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We just e-mailed this out locally:

The family of Tom Bartikoski invite his friends and acquaintances to join them for a social gathering to honor his memory and his love of Bonaire. In honor of Tom, casual and colorful attire suggested.

Wednesday, July 10, 2002
6:00-7:30pm
Kaya Ruby 23, Republiek

Please contact Jake Richter at 717-6773 or jake@nettech.an for directions or if you have questions

 


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