Donald Joseph Bartoli

February 13, 1939 – January 7, 2025 Donald Joseph Bartoli passed away on January 7, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He was 85. A Celebration of Life and reception will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Peace Lutheran Church, 828 West Main Street, Grass Valley. Don was born on February 13, 1939 in San Francisco, the middle son of Italian descendants, John and Elena (Blaiotta) Bartoli. His parents owned Tip Top Shoe Renewing in North Beach of San Francisco for many years until his father’s untimely death in 1964. Don graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School and attended San Francisco City College until he joined the navy in 1956. Don’s naval years were exceptional, serving from the U.S. Seventh Fleet destroyer USS Leonard F. Mason. His excellent grades in math qualified him for electronics technician. From 200 applicants Don was one of twelve chosen for ET school at Treasure Island which allowed him to go home every night and enjoy his mother’s fine cuisine. In his four and a half year career with the navy, he also received two separate commendations for extraordinary service. Following his navel discharge Don went to work for Varian Associates in Palo Alto, CA. In 1962 Don met the love of his life on a blind date, and he married Shirlee Baker in Waverly, IA July 14, 1963. Upon returning to California, Don was accepted into the apprentice program of I.B.E.W. Local 6 in San Francisco to begin a four year program of work and school. While enrolled in this program he worked many of the high rises in the city including the Hartford building which was at that time, the tallest building in San Francisco. In 1968 after completing his apprenticeship, Don went to work for Ets-Hokin Corporation as a foreman and completed several major projects for the company. Over the next seven years these projects included Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame and ended with Lawrence Radiation Laboratories in Livermore, CA. The year 1975 brought a dramatic change for their now family of five when they sold their home in the Bay Area and moved to Nevada City. Nevada and Sierra Counties were familiar country to the family. Don’s parents began vacationing in the high Sierras, mainly the Sardine Lake area in 1947. Each year the Bartoli clan and friends return to the basin for hiking, swimming, fishing, and good times. In 1976 he opened his own company, Bartoli Electric Inc., which was in operation for the next 34 years. Don loved the commercial aspect of electrical work and completed several large contracts in Nevada County and nearby counties; including several schools, a police station, the second floor of SNMH (1982 to 1985), Quail Ridge now Atria, and many contracts at Beale Air Force Base to name a few. Larger contracts were joint-ventured with Mountain Electrical Construction of Grass Valley. In 1976 the family joined Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley at which time Don became the “in house electrical contractor” for the next 47 years as well as serving on several committees and boards. Don was a fantastic fisherman with deep roots in scuba diving and fishing from his early life in the Bay Area. After moving to Nevada City, Don started fishing with his brother Robert and some of his Bay Area buddies at Eagle Lake just outside of Susanville, CA. By 1986, Don’s church friends and members of the Aune family joined them and that was the beginning of the Eagle Lake Anglers. Don was the inspiration for this group gathering that lasted over 35 years. The Anglers expanded with sons, grandsons, sons-in-law and associated friends. Eventually, 36 anglers from both families and their friends enjoyed the annual fall gatherings at Eagle Lake thanks to Don. Don is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Shirlee; daughters Debora (Ron) Sanchez, Christine (Daniel Elven) Bartoli, Amy (Rick) Sether; a grandfather to Casey (Tandie) Sanchez, Carly (Justin) Kenworthy, Taryn (Cassidy) Stone, Cara Sether and Riley Sether; a great grandfather to Beau, Bradley, and Briggs Sanchez, Scottie Jo Kenworthy, Inti and Anu Polansky, Meadow and Raven Stone. Don was preceded in death by his parents John and Elena Bartoli, brothers John J. Bartoli and Robert Bartoli, and grandson Cole Joseph Sanchez. We would like to thank Dr. Jon Pritchett for his loving care of our family and also the staff at Wolf Creek Care Center for their kind care of Don his last five weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don’s memory to Peace Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund, 828 West Main Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945. Don was on the founding board of MEF.

Donald Joseph Bartoli

February 13, 1939 - January 7, 2025