June 15, 2023

UPDATED: David M. Bartley, longtime Newman Center board member, has died

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

SPRINGFIELD – Holyoke native David M. Bartley, speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1969 to 1975, former president of Holyoke Community College, and longtime development board member of the Newman Catholic Center at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst died June 13. He had been in hospice for several weeks.

Father Gary Dailey, director of the Newman Center, said Bartley was a valued member of the development board.

“I always appreciated his intellect and his wit,” said Father Dailey, noting that Bartley was instrumental in offering his advice during the early stages of planning the building of the new Newman Center, which was formally dedicated on April 23. “He was very candid about things and he would present his opinions very strongly. We needed to have that critical piece on the board and he helped us to negotiate some very difficult waters during that time in our initial deliberations with regard to the possibility of a new building.”

“I am sad he never got to see the finished product,” Father Dailey added.

Bartley started his career as a teacher at Forest Park Junior High School in Springfield. He was also a basketball coach at the former Holyoke Catholic High School. He first ran for state representative in 1962 and in 1969 was named Speaker of the House, the youngest since the Civil War.

He leaves his wife of nearly 60 years, Bette, and their three children. The Newman Center plans to arrange a Mass to celebrate his memory and his work at the Newman Catholic Center.

The funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 20 at 9 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1945 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040.

Calling hours will be held at the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street, Holyoke, MA, on Monday, June 19 from 4 to 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dr. David M. ’54 and Bette Bartley Scholarship, Holyoke Community College Foundation, Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040; Blessed Sacrament School; or the charity of one’s choice.