Jay Bruce Bartz
February 22, 1940 - February 9, 2026
Jay Bruce Bartz died peacefully on February 9th, 2026, just shy of his 86th birthday in the care of Hospice.
Jay is survived by his wife of 43 years, Bernadine Bartz, his children Alex Hexham and Lynn Ferraro, her husband Gino along with their children, Rachele and Matthew and his wife Taylor. He also is survived by his only surviving sibling Juanita Kay, her daughters Vicky and Cori, and their cousins Mark, Steven, Phillip, Paul, Barbara, Lisa, Bobby and their families. Jay was a loving husband and caring father who loved his family above all.
Jay is the son of Dorthy and John Paul Bartz, he was born on February 22, 1940 in Kansas City, Missouri, he was 1 of 6 children. His family moved to Florida in 1945. He attended Ft. Lauderdale High School where he would meet his future wife Bernadine but he did not know it at the time. He entered the Army after graduation where he was an MP in the Canine Division. After his service he attended the University of Kentucky.
Jay worked for Alamo Rental Car and later at Cliff Berry Inc. as Head of Sales for Environmental Clean Up. During that time at a Flying L High School reunion he would reunite with Bernadine and finally have the courage to ask her out, they married shortly after on August 22, 1983. Later on he started his own company with Bernadine - Bruce Bartz Inc. where they sold Fire Fighting Equipment. Jay and Bernadine traveled extensively all over the world and US. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching the Panthers and Miami Heat. He lived a life he could be proud of, always putting his wife and family first.
He will be missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Harbor Chase Coral Springs, 2975 NW 99th Ave., Coral Springs on February 22nd, from 4pm to 6pm. The family asks in lieu of flowers that you plant a tree in his honor.
