Robert “Bob” W. Bartlett, age 84, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on May 5, 2026. He was born on November 9, 1941, in Chicago. He graduated from Stanford University in 1963 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1966.

Bob is preceded in death by his treasured parents, Robert C. and Rita E. Bartlett née Fitzgerald; and siblings, Beverly and Jeffrey. He is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Mary Lou; his cherished daughter, Brooke (Austin); and many nieces, nephews, and friends who will miss him dearly.

A lifelong learner, researcher, and teacher, Bob used his law degree and expertise to educate and inform financial institutions about technical and financial policies, spending most of his career at the U.S. League of Savings Institutions and Commerce Clearing House (CCH).

An avid runner, biker, swimmer, and general outdoor enthusiast, Bob was happiest when moving. He ran over 20 marathons and always said, “Any run is a good run.” He loved scuba diving and was completely at peace whenever he watched the waves roll in at the beach or caught a beautiful sunrise or sunset over the water.

A music aficionado, his favorite pastime was creating playlists and discovering new music and artists across genres and generations. He was grounded in his guiding philosophy that “You are only as old as your playlists” and proudly sported a Spotify listening age of 21.

Above all else, Bob loved his family fiercely. He enjoyed traveling the world with the love of his life just as much as he enjoyed the quiet moments they shared during their daily rituals. He was his daughter’s most loyal supporter, enthusiastically sharing in her interests and always showing up for her. He adopted his son-in-law’s football team as his own and enjoyed trading race stories and exchanging book recommendations. His sincerity, warmth, and thoughtfulness made him a friend to everyone he met. His loving legacy will live on in those he loved most, his family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church (928 W. Everett Rd., Lake Forest, IL 60045) and will be immediately followed by a life celebration Mass at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made on Bob’s behalf to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org, in honor of his late mother and sister, or to Aid for Women at https://aidforwomen.org, in honor of him and his wife’s shared dedication to the cause.

Arrangements by Kolssak Funeral Home, Wheeling. Leave a condolence, share a story, or post a picture at https://www.funerals.pro. For further assistance, please call 847-537-6600.