Bartholomew James Lennartz

Bartholomew James Lennartz died on November 22, 2019. 
He is survived by AnaBella (Sister), Janelle (Mother), and Matt (Father), along with all four grandparents from both sides, and a large extended family. 

Bart was egregiously taken, but he IS still here in so many other important ways. Justice and peace will come to all who knew him. In the meantime, Bart was called to a higher purpose.

As an organizational leader from and early age, we remember Bartholomew taking our hand and guiding us to one of his interesting findings, or projects he had going on, or to show you something he had learned to do. We remember Bart also using his gift of being able to see what people are feeling or needing. We remember how he could see and acknowledge, like no one else could, if a class mate or friend or coworker needed a kind word or, again, simply to acknowledge them and be there for them. How he responded during acute grief for someone. We remember how he would take on part of the burden for others' benefit.  
 

Bart Hobbies: Socializing, debating, playing his sax (Gifted. He made the concert band base resonate with that Bari-Sax!)), piano (such spirit), and guitar (with great soul). Reading, learning something new, working out/running. 
 

He volunteered for the Salvation Army one year using his spirit sax skills and played until his mouth was raw. He put his case out for tips (he knew his music was worth a lot!), and of course was told he couldn't do that. He got enough tips in that short time to be able to purchase his own X-Box. He figured if he was going to play until his mouth bled, he might as well get something for it for himself!
We remember that Bart was not a group thinker. He often underwent great pressure to fall in line and stop agitating the authorities or bureaucrats in his life. 
Bart met and asked Chelsea Clinton a question about wealth distribution at the Sinclair library in Dayton in 2007, met Hillary Clinton in 2007 in Huber Heights, met Donald Trump in 2015 ("Go home to Mommy") in Vandalia, met and got a selfie with Jeb Bush in NYC as Jeb was walking sad and alone in the city (Jebuary), and met and stood face to face with Uncle Joe (Biden) in 2015 at Sinclair in Dayton. 
 

Bart was the Founder and President of the Debate Club his junior & senior years. With the help of his sister AnaBella and others who were wanting to help, he created the bylaws and constitution and marketed the club to his peers. They orchestrated and he led civil debates of important topics. But this was his "fight club for intellectuals."
Other highlights: 

French Club, leading many group activities. 
Marching Band, where he enjoyed the "ability to synchronize with a diverse group of talented people."
National Honors society (Volunteer work every semester)
4.0 GPA
Best Citizen Award at Buckeye Boys State in 2017. "Exhibited behavior of an exemplary and participatory citizen. 
Chess Club in the 10th grade
Aviator of the Year award in Middle School

He worked at Harrison's in Tipp City as a host, using his organizational skills, charisma, and politeness to help seat customers, buss tables, and take orders from customers. 
He worked at Grunder Landscaping the summer after HS graduation. He learned landscaping skills, ran construction equipment, moved boulders, and mulched a lot, sometimes in difficult climates. 
 

He did landscaping at UD that summer, and later when he started attending UD, used the line "Hey, I did your landscaping!" to gain admittance to UD parties. 
Bart used his musical skills to become a member of the legendary Flyer Pep Band, something fun to do with his time there plus get free admission/transportation to the games to boot! 
He worked in Maintenance for UD over the summer, 2019, maintaining residential facilities. He had a blast, especially since he finally got a dorm room to live in over the summer. 
He worked the Knowledge Hub at Roesch Library professionally handling waves of students with various types of help needs. 
 

Bart was in Alpha Kappa Psi and became the Chairman on the Brotherhood Committee. He was responsible for planning events to create an atmosphere for the members to bond and strengthen the professional fraternity. He mentioned sharing and building on future business venture ideas with his brothers/friends. 
Bart was a Finance major because, as he said, he didn't want to just be a cog in the machine. He wanted to learn as much as he could in a way that was going help people. Specifically how capital markets affected working-class people. 

Bart worked his way into becoming a Resident Assistant at the university, helping residents transition, integrate, and progress through the community living experience. He spoke very positively and enthusiastically about working with his residents and being able to help them. Some have emphasized how amazing of an RA he really was and how much they liked him as a person. 
 

We remember describing Bart as charismatic, great work ethic, passionate, self-motivated, outgoing, and gregarious. With his history of serving his various communities and groups, he always went over and above to provide value to whomever he was working with and whatever was the established goal at the time. He was humble, careful, kind, and able to deeply connect with people. He never took relationships with a light heart and knew how to make life interesting. Always full of fun facts or something to add to the conversation. May justice and peace find its way in our lives as we acknowledge one of the greatest people many have ever interacted with. We love you, Bartholomew. 
 

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