1918 – 2015

POLAND — Francis “Frank” Joseph Bartasius, 96, of Poland passed away peacefully at his home on Friday May 8.

He was born in Lewiston on Dec. 19, 1918, the son of the late Sophie Donkus and Anthony Bartasius.

Frank was very proud of his Lithuanian heritage. He grew up in Lewiston and attended St. Joseph’s School and graduated from Lewiston High School, Class of 1937, participating in many sports. Frank later went on to Bentley College in Boston, graduating with an accounting degree in 1942. In June of the same year, Frank was inducted in the US Army, serving as a tech sergeant, stationed in British Guyana during World War II.

After he was discharged from the Army in 1945, he met Muriel Pontbriand and married her in November 1949 at St. Louis Church in Auburn, and they were lifelong parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish.

During their 55 years of marriage, they had four children; Steve, Julie, Mike and Dave.

He was employed by Bridgton Academy as a teacher and as an accountant at Fritz Brothers.

In his younger days, his interest in golf was sparked by being a caddy at various golf courses, which eventually led to his acquisition of Summit Springs Golf Course in 1952. In 1962, he purchased the McKnight & McCleary Potato Farms in East Poland, totaling almost 500 acres of land, of which he would walk almost on a daily basis.

Frank, at that time, had a vision of building an 18-hole championship golf course and named it Fairlawn Farm after the McKnight property. It is now known as Fairlawn Country Club.

He truly believed in his heart that in order to be successful in building a golf course, it had to be playable and accessible to the public. For his accomplishments in golf, Frank was inducted into the Maine Golf Hall of Fame in 2005. Just as a quick note, he took his last downhill ski run in Vail, Colo., at the age of 89.

He is survived by his children, Steve Bartasius, Julie Bibeau and her husband, Ron, Mike Bartasius and his wife, Meredith, and Dave Bartasius; his grandchildren, Jessica Bean and her husband, Adam, and Michelle Moore; his great-grandchildren, Margo Bean, Simon Bean and Blake VanDerElsen.

Frank’s family would like thank the Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice and Friends of Alternative Care, especially Doris, Deb, Dionne and Sandy.

Special thanks go to “Amazing” Grace (Fulcher) who was truly amazing in providing care for Frank over the years. And thank you to Fred Aberle for his dedication and support.