A new soul has recently ascended to Heaven. Richard Michael Bartal departed this world on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021, after a courageous six year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born on August 20th, 1940, and graced us with his presence for 81 years. He was a father (to his three children Denise, Steve, & Yvonne), a brother (to his one sibling Rosemary), a husband and ex (to his wife Joan), an uncle, cousin, friend, and more. As with anyone’s life, it is difficult to describe the essence and totality of a person within a few paragraphs, as is the case for Richard, but here goes . . .
Richard was predeceased by his mother & father, Mary (Vojtisek) Bartal & Clement Bartal, his very kind uncle, John Bartal, his eldest daughter, Denise Bartal, and the mother of his children, his ex-wife and love of his life, Joan Bartal. Richard is survived by his two children, his beloved and steadfastly loyal daughter (and favorite) Yvonne (Bartal) Pechanek (Roanoke, VA), and his son (me, who he often butted heads with) Stephen Bartal (Endwell, NY), as well as his son-in-law Ron Pechanek (Roanoke, VA), sister Rosemary (Bartal) Ciaravino (Manassa, VA), brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert Schuur II & Mary Schuur (Calloway, VA), his nephews Anthony Ciaravino (Manassas, VA) & Robert Schuur III (Syracuse, NY), his nieces Sherry (Schuur) Carpenter (Phoenix, AZ), Sherry Haas (GA), & Mary Ciaravino (Dallas, TX), his favorite cousin ‘Reggie’ (Regina Vojtisek) Lindsey, and numerous other relatives and friends.
Richard grew up in a house on Mygatt Street in the First Ward of Binghamton, with many relatives (17 at one time) living under the same roof, including his Slovak speaking grandparents who had come to America from Europe. He would grow up amongst those eastern European ethnically diverse neighborhoods (Slovik, Polish, Russian, Ukranian), and would learn to appreciate their foods, music, and cultures. His grandfather (John) would play the accordion at many block parties, and Richard would later become proficient at that instrument as well. Richard was a small boy when he would meet his own father ‘Clem’ for the first time, upon his father’s return from World War II with a Purple Heart, after joining the army and fighting in Europe. Tragedy would strike early in Richard’s life at 15 years of age, when he and his sister Rosemary (4 years older) would lose their mother (Mary) to cancer. As with anyone, this would have a profound effect on him. Their father (Clem) would make it into his 60s before he would also succumb to cancer.
Like his grandfather (John), Richard was an excellent accordion player in his younger days, often playing Slovak type polka songs on that instrument, until he gained a love for electronic pianos & organs. His favorite song was ‘Ave Maria’, which reminded him of his mother. He loved many things in life, including food, travel, music, concerts, dance halls, casinos, nice cars, flea markets, movies, animals, walks in parks, zoos, real estate, mowing his land, people watching, & occasional conversation. He liked working with his hands and building things, especially when those things he built could store things he would collect, i.e. way too many trips to the flea markets. He was a true packrat. He liked the stray cats that seemed ever present around his home, always giving them food and shelter when needed.
And Richard loved food, especially from the Slovak, Greek, & Italian festivals, along with their music, and of course his wife’s holubki (pigs in a blanket) and kolachki (cookies). Red Lobster was also a common feeding ground. Richard always piled food high on his plate at any buffet, and it was like a balancing act to get it back to the table without a spill, but he always managed flawlessly. The restaurants mostly lost money when he was at a buffet. He loved going to the casinos, Atlantic City for many years, then Turning Stone near Syracuse, and would keep his bets to a minimum ($20 limit). Richard also loved a good party back in his younger days, where he typically became the life of the party. He enjoyed travel in his later years to see his family in northern Virginia (sister Rosemary & nephew Anthony) and southern Virginia (ex-wife Joan, & daughters Denise & Yvonne, & Brother-in-Law Bob).
Richard had numerous jobs throughout his life, and always had a solid work ethic. His longest job was at S.U.N.Y. Binghamton in the Facilities Dept., where he eventually retired after more than two decades of service. He would later spend time on his acreage up in Afton, near the stream that ran thru his 22 acre parcel, or on his property in Conklin by the river, taking great pleasure in commanding his riding mower to cut the large areas of grass on his land. There, he got to feel like a land baron, while getting away from the world and being at peace with it.
During Richard’s life, the passage of time brought the realities and problems that come with any marriage, fatherhood, responsibilities, bills, jobs, divorce, separation, tragic events, etc. These things would take their toll on him, where he would deal with jealousy, frustration, fear, anxiety, loneliness, & depression. He would become much more reclusive later in his life, as he found it difficult, as well as painful, to maintain normal relationships with other people. His love for animals was much easier and much less complicated.
And if life was not hard enough, the aging process and affliction with Parkinson’s Disease would present an entirely new and unforeseen challenge for Richard. He would slowly lose the ability to command the body he had controlled his entire life, and the need for long term care and assisted living would now become his reality. Ironically however, he would never be alone again in the final six years of his life, due to his dependence on others. As a result, he formed new relationships with various caretakers, many of whom cared for him deeply. Some found him extremely challenging, but a little part of him probably enjoyed that. Most of his caretakers liked him and found him to be humorous, endearing, quiet, stoic, and easy to care for. Give him chocolate milk and jelly donuts, and he was happy as a clam.
As his son, I assisted him thru the last several years of his life, after we had been estranged for some time, and I discovered things about him that I had failed to see in the past. He could be very funny at times, without even trying. When I first brought him to Castle Gardens, I said “Dad, There’s a lot of nice people here”. His response, “I’ll change that”. I could not help but laugh at his sarcastic sense of humor, as he said it with a serious face. Another time in their cafeteria (where all the old folks gathered for lunch), he called it “the viewing room”, as if it were some kind of senior’s real-time pick-up scene. Again, said with a completely straight face, which is why it was so funny. I also learned he is good at math, is a very detailed record keeper, could print letters and numbers by hand almost like a typewriter, is great at pattern recognition, can play musical instruments, and collects way too much stuff. I possess all of these traits as well, which I am certain were passed down to me thru his genetics. In these last several years, I learned that I might be a lot more like him than I was initially willing to admit, but now I am Ok with that.
As I helped my father thru this remaining part of his life, I saw the fear, frustration, anger, and indignities he had to deal with. And on the flip side, I saw the humor, patience, silence, and courage he could muster to cope with those situations. Sometimes, people have to be at their worst, in order for them to be at their best. For many years, I focused on my father’s negative traits, and he had his share, just like many people. But there were a few times when my family and I needed him, like when I was in the hospital a couple of times in my 30s and 40s, and when Denise got hurt in that horrific car crash in 1979, and he was there for us.
Looking back now, I wish I had been there more for him in those earlier years, helping him get passed his own demons. We just seemed to butt heads back then, due to ego, stubbornness, or whatever. But in the end, I got to help him thru a rough time, see his humanity, discover his courage, and become proud of him. I learned that my resentment had steadily morphed into compassion and concern, and I just did not want him to suffer any more. He was trapped in his body for the last few months, almost as bad as my older sister Denise, who had been trapped in her body for 40 years following her accident in 1979. I prayed for my mother (Joan) to come and take her to the next world, and that prayer was answered in January of 2020. I prayed for my father’s mother (Mary) to come and take him to the next world, and she answered that prayer on September 29th, 2021. In the end, I learned that my father was a better, stronger, funnier, more patient and courageous man than I had realized. His suffering in this world has now passed, as he rejoins our loved ones in the next world. In that place, I know he will experience true love, peace, and happiness. Bye for now Dad …
The family would like to thank the many folks who cared for him over the past six years, including the staffs at: 1) Castle Gardens of Vestal, NY; 2) The Homesteads of Appalachin, NY; and 3) Absolut Care Nursing Home at Endicott, NY.
And a most special thanks from me to my sister Yvonne, who although unable to visit during these ridiculous times of COVID, spent many times video chatting with my father (via Face-Time), and sending him beautiful heartwarming cards all throughout his ordeal, which I know were always bright spots in his life. She likely spent more time with him than I did, despite her living several states away in Virginia. This is no surprise to me, as she cared for my mother Joan and my sister Denise for years. It is just who she is. I am lucky to have such a fantastic sister, as my father was just as fortunate to have such a wonderful daughter. Thanks Baby Sis ...
Rest in Peace Richard. We will love you eternally.
Richard’s family had services provided by Leon Pucedo Funeral Home of Endicott, NY. His family will spread his ashes in places near and dear to him, including near those who are his loved ones. On-line condolences may be entered below.
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