Frank A Bartolomeo Jr.

On November 15, 2025, Frank Bartolomeo, 94, completed his journey through life in his home in Lake Jackson, TX. While his aging body failed him, he never allowed his spirit to be broken. He was surrounded by those who loved him.

Known to his family and coworkers as an optimist and a hard worker, he believed that any issue could be conquered through teamwork. Whether at work or building houses or at many of his other construction projects, his mantra was “If we all work together, we all will succeed together”.

Frank was born in 1931 to Frank and Theresa Bartolomeo of Cranston, Rhode Island. Growing up in the years after the depression of 1929 yielded a life of family chores, vegetable farming, raising chickens, school, and family taking care of each other.

After graduating from high school, he attended Brown University in 1949. In 1953, he married Marilyn Elaine Miller (deceased 2016) and went on to have 5 children, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. They moved to College Station for his graduate studies at Texas A & M. During this time, he accepted employment with the Dow Chemical Company and began working in Lake Jackson as a Research Chemist.

This teamwork spirit carried through after his career of 43 years with the Dow Chemical Company, moving several times during his career: in 1959 to Dow’s Alynn’s Point plant located in Gales Ferry, Connecticut; in 1966, he managed the Styron Division in Midland, Michigan; in 1972, returned to Alynn’s Point to lead management positions; in 1979, he moved to Lake Jackson to finish his career working for Dow with multiple divisions and projects.

Following his service at Dow, he began volunteer work for the Southern Brazos Habitat for Humanity, overseeing the planning and building of new houses in the Brazosport area. He built nearly 100 houses and personally worked on them all.

He was always known as an avid and very experienced fisherman, eventually settling in Lake Jackson for its superb coastal fishing setting. There were some days when the fish were not biting, but there was no such thing as a bad fishing day. He admitted that sometimes he just liked the stillness. Many of his neighbors and acquaintances were recipients of his “catch of the day”.

This zest for fishing was wholly evident, when he helped shepherd the collaboration between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Coastal Conservation Association and the Dow Chemical company for the construction of the Sea Center in Lake Jackson. The center opened in 1996 as one of the first saltwater fisheries. After the center’s successful opening, he continued many years volunteering time for educational tours at the Center. He also enjoyed making unique wood-crafting marine objects, fishing lures, fly ties, and other gifts in his workshop at home, to help fund the Sea Center gift shop.

Frank traveled to many countries such as Greece, China, South Korea, and Italy and studied several languages including Russian, Latin, and Italian and although there are some amazing stories, he often said, “Here (in Texas), I have the sun and the sea and what else do I need to be happy?”

Frank is predeceased by his wife Marilyn Bartolomeo, His son Marc Bartolomeo, his sister Anne O’Rourke, and his brother-in-law Charlie O’Rourke.

Frank is survived by His children: Frank and Karen Bartolomeo (Westerly, RI); Stephen Bartolomeo and Barbara Baggett (Utopia, TX); Bruce and Melissa Bartolomeo (Berlin, CT); Elizabeth Bartolomeo and Bill Allen (Austin, TX); Daughter-In-Law and Marc Bartolomeo’s Widow, Catherine Bartolomeo (Lake Jackson, TX);

His Grandchildren: Sara Bartolomeo and her husband Shawn Johnston, (St. Petersburg, FL), Kayla Bartolomeo and her husband Austin Goad, (Centerbrook, CT); Victoria Bartolomeo (Shrewsbury, MA), Canyon Mooney (Austin, TX), and Sierra Mooney (Austin, TX);

His Great-grandchildren: Indigo and Lincoln; His sister: Elizabeth (Betty) Perrino and her husband, Albert; Numerous nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors. And Jacob, his dog.

Special thanks to Sandy, Druce, and Losha-friends who watched over him in his later years.

A memorial service will be held at Restwood Funeral Home at 11:00 A.M., December 5th, 2025. Reception to follow at 1:00 P.M.