John S. Bartlett III

DANVERS- John “Jay“ Sumner Bartlett, III, passed away in his home on September 18, 2024 following a lengthy illness. He was the loving husband of Cheri (Belmore) Bartlett with whom he shared 35 wonderful years of marriage. In addition he was a devoted father to his one son, John Sumner Bartlett IV.

Jay was born in Boston on November 21, 1945, the first child of the late John Sumner Jr. and Camille (Schexnayder) Bartlett. His childhood was spent in a Dorchester home full of love and many relatives, before the growing family moved to Peabody when Jay was 12.

A focused and determined student, Jay graduated from St. John’s Prep. He went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree from Boston College and later a Master’s degree from Harvard Business School.

Jay also served our country with the United States Army during the Vietnam War, where he received two bronze stars and was honorably discharged. Jay marked his return from Vietnam with the purchase of a high fidelity stereo system, which had a sound that could finally do justice to the musicians he cherished.

Jay’s professional career was spent in the biotech industry where he was employed with Nova Biomedical as a Director for over 30 years. During his career, he developed many friends, giving him not only a sense of community at his work but a deep fulfillment and joy in his job.
Jay was a lifelong fan of the Red Sox and enjoyed Celtics season tickets during the Larry Bird era. A natural born athlete himself, he was skilled at baseball, tennis, and golf. Once when his father was sick, a college-age Jay took the spot in his father’s bowling league. He performed so well, they demanded Jay take the spot permanently.

Jay could be found reading, or watching foreign films. He had a love for food, fine wine, and he craved the hunt of a best kept secret restaurant. Still, he delighted in some simple treats – including the occasional Milky Way and glass bottle of Coca-Cola.

While Jay had many interests, his true passion was always music. Each medium of sound had its place in his perfectly catalogued collection. He preferred records because of their resonance and CDs for their clarity. Sometimes he would listen to favorite artists standing next to the speaker, as if to bring himself closer to the sound.

Above all his hobbies and cultured interests, Jay was devoted to his family. He cherished any time spent with them, including coaching little league baseball and youth soccer for his son. He adored traveling with his family and friends, sharing with them the beautiful spots he had found along the way.

In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his siblings, Deborah Riquier and her husband Thomas of Gloucester, Richard Bartlett of Exeter, NH, Thomas Bartlett and his wife Donna of Duxbury and Camille Crowley and her husband Jim of Salem, and his nephews and niece, Luke Richards, Jessica Cronin and Bret Bartlett.

His visitation will be held 4PM to 7PM on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers, MA. His graveside service will be held at 10AM on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park,185 Lake St., Peabody, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jay’s name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson’s research at John Bartlett – Donate Here. Online directions and condolences are available at www.LyonsFuneral.com