Bart was born in Detroit on September 11, 1938, attended Detroit Southeastern High School and the University of Michigan, and received his graduate degree from Tulane University. Bart received a full scholarship to Michigan as an Evans Scholar. As a student and a rebel at UM, Bart served as the editor of the Michigan Daily newspaper and was also a member of Sigma Delta Chi, a professional journalism fraternity.
Shortly after graduation from the University of Michigan in 1960 with a B.A. in Political Science and Journalism, Bart married his high school sweetheart, Nina Perry in 1961. They were married for over 59 years, raised two wonderful children and enjoyed five grandchildren.
Although he had an adventurous past, he was rarely interested in talking about it as his eye was always towards the future. Bart went on to be the founder of the Huthwaite Innovation Institute and helped companies around the world in a spectrum of industries to increase the value and reduce the waste of their products and services. He operated the Institute for close to forty years and as anyone who knew him will attest, he was passionate about his work.
Bart was one of the first importers of robotics and was a leading expert in design for manufacturability and assembly. This experience ultimately led to the creation of his Lean Design Method including his beloved strategic “ilities” and evil “ings” which he used to help companies create products with more value and less waste. He worked closely with scores of global companies, including GE, Ford, Nestle, General Dynamics, Gulfstream, 3M, Steelcase, Microsoft, Siemens, Eaton, and many other Fortune 500 companies, and he published several seminal books in the field.
Bart’s endless energy, vision and initiative transformed Mackinac Island for generations, and he and Nina touched many lives. Bart was an active member and former Commodore of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club. A lifelong sailor and boater, Bart preferred to be addressed as “The Commodore,” to which he would always fondly reply, “Thank you for recognizing my rank.” Bart helped to extend yacht racing on the island beyond the races up Lakes Huron and Michigan to include the Mackinac Island to Manitoulin race, Lightning regattas and Round the Island Races. Bart also founded the Bernida Restoration Project in an effort to bring the boat that won the first Port Huron to Mackinac yacht race in 1925 back into racing form. It ultimately won the race again in 2012. Bart’s legacy lives on in the Bart Huthwaite Mackinac Island Boating Fund which he created to encourage boating among youth on the island.
Bart was also a visionary in starting the Mackinac Island Horseman’s Association and building the community barn and riding program for island residents, cottagers and tourists. Although he was an atrocious golfer with no natural ability or even interest, he enjoyed the social aspects of golf with his kids and grandkids and served three years as President of the Wawashkamo Golf Club. Bart loved the island and helped the community in too may ways to recount, but his biggest legacy was building bridges between people and helping to create memories. You never knew who would be at one of his many parties, but you always knew it would be an eclectic mix and guaranteed to be fun. After a hard day’s work, he would often say that it was time to turn on the “Fun light”, may it shine on eternal for him now.
Bart is survived by his loving wife, Nina (Perry), son William Barton “Bart” Huthwaite, Jr. (Kristen) and daughter Heather Huthwaite Martin (Sean) and his adoring grandchildren Caroline, Aidan and Avery Martin and Kate and Charles (“Chaz”) Huthwaite. Bart is also survived by two brothers, Robert “Bob” Huthwaite (Dianne) of Dawsonville, GA and Peter Huthwaite (Laura) of Grosse Pointe Park. He was predeceased by his older brother, John and sister in law, Penny Huthwaite. Bart is also survived by his many nieces, nephews and cousins, and by many extended family members and friends who all loved him and whom he adored like family.
Bart will be remembered at private memorial followed by a public graveside service on Mackinac Island on Sunday, July 19 at 2:00PM in The Mackinac Island Cemetery. As a larger than life character, his celebration of life can’t be constrained by a global pandemic and therefore will be postponed until the summer of 2021.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to one of the following three organizations via the Mackinac Island Community Foundation at https://www.micf.org/make-a-gift-now.htm#donate.
Bart Huthwaite Mackinac Island Boating Fund
Mackinac State Historic Parks Fund
Mackinac Horsemen's Association Fund
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