Donald Joseph Bartone

Donald (Don) Joseph Bartone, age 84, died on January 15, 2015. Born on July 22, 1930 to Leo Moroni and Elizabeth (Formenti) Moroni, Don was a native of Michigan, having lived there almost his whole life: first on Bewick Street, then on Wilshire Drive. In 1932, before Don was 2 years old, his father Leo died from pneumonia. Leo’s widow Elizabeth remarried a widower, Carl Bartone, with three sons of his own (Richard, Donald, and Henry). Carl Bartone adopted and raised Donald Joseph. Don and his mom Elizabeth along with Carl and his three new brothers all came together to become the Bartone family. Now, young Don had two wonderful paternal family trees: the Moronis and the Bartones.

During his final years of elementary school, Don’s parents, Carl and Elizabeth, had to move to Tucson Arizona for his mother’s health. Don stayed behind and continued to live on Wilshire Drive with his aunt Lillian Moroni (“Auntie”). He continued his Catholic education, attended college, and then served his time in Army. He returned to Detroit and met and married Rita McAndrew. Once married, he moved St. Clair Shores Michigan and from there, with his growing family, he moved to Troy Michigan. Don spent his retirement years in Washington Township Michigan until 2011. In April 2011, he and his wife relocated to Raleigh NC where they decided to settle down at Abbotswood Independent Living Center.

Married to Rita McAndrew on October 5th, 1957, Don and Rita quickly started their family which included 6 daughters and one (male) dog Coco. Don is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Rita Bartone, six daughters and five son in laws including: Cathy Valstad and her husband Clyde; Mary Slaughter and her husband Leslie; Michele Kobayashi and her husband Tad; Jackie Vaughn and her husband Eric; Susan Bartone; and Patty Durkin and her husband Patrick.

Don was the proud grandfather to 11 grandchildren: Andrew Valstad, Elizabeth Sauvageau,, Kaylen Irvine , Lisa Slaughter, Ben Kobayashi , Christopher Kobayashi, Annie Kobayashi, Leah Iyer, Nathan Vaughn, Megan Vaughn, and Danielle Durkin. He was also a great grandfather of Noah and Hannah Grace Sauvageau.

Don Bartone was a highly ethical man who worked very hard and was family oriented. He was the rock and foundation of his family. Working hard, often more than just one job at a time, was his way to ensure the best for his family including high quality Catholic education. He was passionate and very dedicated to the belief of the importance of a good Catholic education. This was extremely important for him. For Don, who first went to St. Bernard’s, then St. David’s elementary schools, then on to St. Joseph high school (all in Detroit Michigan), a Catholic education was to be highly valued. He wanted nothing less for his children. He made sacrifices so his children could attend St. Margaret’s (St. Clair Shores, MI), then St. Hugo of the Hills (Bloomfield Hills, MI), then Marian high school (Birmingham, MI).

Don was very generous to his family ALWAYS. While never spoiling his kids, Don made sure their needs were met all the while teaching them the value of money. Very moral, Don was always very clear of the importance communicating to his family of doing the right thing because it was the right thing to do. He took pride in everything he did and took great care of his family.

In his professional life, as a Certified Master Accountant, Don worked as the accountant in the family business “Carl Bartone and Sons Plumbing”. During that time he also taught college level courses in accounting at Detroit College of Business. In the 1970’s Don transitioned to full time teaching, with one of his last teaching positions being at Eastern Michigan University as a professor in the accounting department.

Don was preceded in death by his biological father Leo Moroni; his parents who raised him: Carl and Elizabeth Bartone; his three brothers, Richard Bartone, Fr. Don E. Bartone and Henry Bartone; his aunt Lillian Moroni (Auntie); and Coco the beloved family dog.

A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 4 PM in the St. Mary’s Chapel on the grounds of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church: 11401 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC. Interment will follow at the church’s memorial columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made by check or credit card payable to Cardinal Gibbons High School. Then, in the subject line, write “in memory of Donald Bartone”. They should be mailed to the Cardinal Gibbons High School: Advancement Office 1401 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Or through the school’s website: www.cghsnc.org/onlinegiving. If making an online memorial gift, check the box for memorial gift and type in Donald Joseph Bartone in the box provided.