Theodore "Ted" Bartolotta

Theodore (Ted) Bartolotta, 95, of Suntree, Melbourne, Florida, passed away at home on July 16, 2024 after several months of failing health. He was born in Middletown, CT. on June 4, l929.  He was predeceased by his parents Gaetano and Rosaria (Giardina) Bartolotta, as well as two brothers, Carl and James Bartolotta, and his sister Anna Malespini.

In 1947 Ted graduated from Middletown High School in Connecticut where he played varsity football as well as basketball and track, and was known as “Bear Bartolotta”.  He received his B.A. and Master’s Degree in Teaching from Wesleyan University.  Later he attended the University of Connecticut where he received his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Secondary Education and School Administration. He taught Mathematics at Glastonbury High School and later served as Principal there for 22 years. He received an award as a member and Chairman of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Board of Control, and also served on the Connecticut Association of Secondary Schools Principals.  On many occasions he served as Chairman of the New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges Evaluation Teams. He is a member of the Middletown Connecticut Sports Hall of Fame, and played on the Wesleyan undefeated football teams of 1948 and 1949. While in the United States Army from 1952 - 1954, Ted served as a Ballistic Missiles Research Analyst at Ft. Bliss, Texas.

Ted met the love of his life Evelyn (Evie) Ruitto in 1947 and they married in 1951. They celebrated 72 years of marriage and have two sons, Ted J. (Carlene Lucashensky) and Steven (Sallie Donkin). They have four grandsons and one granddaughter: David (Michelle), Jonathan, Michael (Melissa), Brian, and Maria (Jake Cohen). The nine great grandchildren are Kevin, Alexis, Dominic, Caroline, Joseph, Finnegan, Celia, Luciana, and Sebastian.

In 1991 Ted and Evelyn retired and moved to Melbourne, Florida. They were members of the Suntree Country Club for many years. Ted was a founding member of the Howard Floan Reading Group. Deeply religious, he was a Baptismal Godfather seven times and a Confirmation sponsor several times as well. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community since its founding in 2001.  

Endlessly curious, he read broadly in history, historical fiction, and science. A visit with him was filled with questions about all aspects of what you were doing, reading and thinking, what sports teams you rooted for, and how the sports you liked were evolving. You would then hear about leather football helmets, basketball set shots and Joe DiMaggio. He was a mathematician to his core and tried to introduce the “distributive principle” to all old enough to go to school.  Every moment with him was a learning moment, but he made it fun. He was a patriarch in the broadest, best sense of the word.  He made everyone around him feel better and be better.

A funeral Mass will be held at St John the Evangelist Church Monday, August 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM with calling hours before the Mass. Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Portland Connecticut at a later date.

In lieu of flowers you may send donations to BAAB ( the Brevard Association for Advancement of the Blind), 674 S Patrick Dr Satellite Beach FL 32937 or to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community, 5655 Stadium Pkwy, Melbourne FL 32940