‘A Pillar of the North Penn Community:’ Officials React to Death of Frank Bartle

Dean Martin was fond of saying of Frank Sinatra, “It’s Frank’s world; we’re just living in it.” Martin never met renowned Lansdale attorney Frank R. Bartle, but, according to business partner Robert J. Iannozzi Jr., the saying applies equally.

“We’ll never see the likes of Frank Bartle again,” Iannozzi said of the managing partner of Dischell Bartle Dooley Law Offices, who died suddenly on Sunday. “Graced are those who knew him, blessed are those that had him as a friend.”

“I was lucky to be one of the blessed ones and I’m better today for it,” he said. “Safe trip home pal.”

Undoubtedly, it was a rough day for the attorneys and associates at the law firm on Monday, and the melancholy will surely be shared among those across the state and beyond who experienced Bartle’s professionalism.

Bartle, a Lansdale son who raised his own family in the Borough, had more than three decades’ experience in real estate, zoning and land development matters for numerous municipalities, school districts and counties in Pennsylvania.

For a time, he served as solicitor for the North Penn School District, for Lansdale Borough, and for Montgomery, Franconia, Whitpain, and Warminster townships. Bartle also dealt with general litigation cases in the areas of business, municipal law, and personal injury.

Bartle was the chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Committee from 1993 to 2004 and the former chairman of the Lansdale Republican Club. The 1977 graduate of the Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University was also a member of the Montgomery and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.

Bartle’s political views, however, did not bar him from making and keeping professional and personal connections on the other side of the aisle.

“As a young Democratic campaign staffer growing up in Montgomery County politics in the 1990s, while he chaired the then-dominant County Republican Party, I feared, respected, and admired his political prowess,” wrote Montgomery County Sheriff Sean Kilkenny on Facebook. “Over the last 10 years, our relationship changed from being adversaries to becoming friends, talking about politics, law, family, sports and life.”

Kilkenny wrote the Bar has lost a great lawyer.

“From one Irishman to another: ‘May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand,’” he wrote.

State Rep. Steve Malagari, D-53, grew up with the Bartle’s as his neighbors in Lansdale. He offered condolences to the family during this difficult time.

“He has a big legacy in the North Penn and Montgomery County region, as a well-established lawyer with a practice just outside Lansdale Borough, and as Chair of the Montgomery County Republican Committee. I know he was looking forward to making future plans in his practice and family, so this news is a very sad loss for our community,” Malagari said.

Malagari’s fondest memory of Bartle was seeing him teach his children various swimming strokes, namely butterfly, at Fourth Street Pool.

Bartle’s brother, Bill, is the current Athletic Director at North Penn High School, and the former Aquatic Director, head girls’ and boys’ swimming coach and head boys’ water polo coach. Frank also coached the Lansdale Swim Team for a time.

“He was a great competitive swimmer and his family’s legacy in swimming is still very prevalent. He will be greatly missed,” Malagari said.

Rep. Todd Stephens, R-151, said he would miss Bartle dearly and credited him with shaping his career.

“Frank was a pillar of the North Penn community, a titan in the legal community, a trusted advisor and a wonderful friend,” Stephens said. “His wisdom and insights helped shape my career, but our personal friendship is something I will always cherish. Nicole and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Kathy and the entire Bartle family.”

Others echoed similar sentiments on the passing of Bartle on Kilkenny’s Facebook post:

• “Eternal memory grant unto him, O Lord. Prayers for the Bartle family,” wrote District Judge Andrea Duffy.
• “So sorry to hear. We worked together for a summer at the Board of Assessments. Always a great conversation when we would meet,” wrote Anthony J. Stipa Jr.
• “Frank was a dear friend, a generous person and a great lawyer. This is so very sad. Praying for his family,” wrote Joseph P. Walsh, who served alongside Bartle in his former role as a supervisor in Montgomery Township.
• “He was a super great guy and will be missed,” wrote current Montgomery Township Supervisor Candyce Fluehr Chimera.
• “I clerked at Frank’s firm the first summer of law school. He was a bright and wickedly funny man. I still can hear his laugh,” wrote Terence McGraw.

Iannozzi said there will never be another like Frank Bartle.

“My world stopped when I heard the news of Frank’s passing. He not only taught me to be a better lawyer; he taught me to be a better man,” he said. “As good a lawyer as he was, he was an even better man. He was the gold-standard; his word was his bond.”

See also:

Obit: F. Lee Mangan, Longtime Lansdale Borough Manager, Dies at 70

Obit: James ‘Sinzy’ Sinz, Towamencin Supervisor And Vietnam Veteran, Dies At 74

Obit: Msgr. Joseph W. Murray, Saint Stanislaus Pastor Emeritus, Dies at 87

Obit: Jim Algeo Sr., Longtime Lansdale Catholic Football Coach, Dies at 83

Obit: Hugh Cullen, Former Lansdale Mayor, Dies At 79