Ludwig Simon ("Luddy") Bartkus, aged 71, of Bedford, Nova Scotia, passed away peacefully February 4, 2020, at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, he was the son of Ludwig and Steffie Bartkus of Linden, NJ.
Luddy was a proud graduate of Linden High School, where he was a member of several varsity sports teams. He went on to study and play NCAA Division 1 basketball at the United States Navel Academy, from which he received an honourable discharge before finishing his degree and playing basketball at Saint Mary's University.
After graduating, Luddy was a respected teacher, vice principal and principal at a number of junior high schools in Halifax County for over 30 years. After retiring, he loved his part-time work helping clients and co-workers at Enterprise Rent-a-Car.
Basketball was a big part of Luddy's life. In addition to playing the game, he ran numerous summer basketball camps in the United States before turning his attention to coaching. In the 1970s, he coached the Canadian national men's wheelchair basketball team and later coached numerous youth teams. In the 1980s, he was instrumental in bringing the CIAU (now CIS) national basketball championships to Halifax for the first time.
His volunteerism also extended into health care. After receiving a kidney transplant, he championed this cause, counselling organ transplant recipients, donors and their families. He also volunteered with the Canadian Kidney Foundation, where he played an important role in helping enact legislation for presumed consent for organ donations in Nova Scotia. For years, he also volunteered with the Turkey Club, which raised money each Christmas to help disadvantaged families in the Halifax area.
Luddy loved his wife of 48 years, Margaret, with whom he loved to travel. They visited the American Southwest (a favourite), Cuba, Portugal, and Egypt, among many other places.
Luddy also loved golfing, snooker, and vintage sports cars, along with all of the cherished friendships those hobbies brought him. He was a football fan, participated in many football pools, and passed many happy hours with close friends at the Roadhouse and Brewster's in Bedford.
In recent years, his greatest joy was being "Bunkie" to his grandson, Ian, who he played with and talked about often.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret (Dickie); his son, Andrew, of Ottawa; his sister, Debbie (Paul) Jussel, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania; his stepsister, Julie DeCosimo, and stepbrother, Bill DeCosimo, both of New Jersey; and, his grandson, Ian Sam.
He is predeceased by his parents and nephew, Chad Jussel.
A celebration of life will be held February 11 from 2pm to 5pm at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive in Halifax, NS. Cremation has taken place and burial will follow at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
Heartfelt thanks to the nurses, doctors, and staff in the nephrology unit at the Victoria General Hospital, whose care for Luddy will forever be appreciated.
To view or place an online message of condolence please visit www.jasnowfuneral.com
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