In Loving Memory

of a wonderful friend, brother, and son,

Nick Bartos

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San Francisco

 

 

Obituary

Written by Derek Bartos

We remember with gratitude Nicholas Ray Bartos, 43, beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, nephew, cousin, co-worker, and friend. Nick died February 26 in Colorado.

Nick was born February 23, 1979, in Creighton, Nebraska, to Rodney and Jane (Maly) Bartos. He grew up on the family farm west of Verdigre, Nebraska, with his siblings Derek, Mandy, and Jared. He was a joyful child, with a beaming smile that lit up the room. He was always fascinated by how things worked, and he wouldn’t stop until he figured them out. If something was broken, he offered to fix it. If something was working, he found a way to make it better.

Nick attended Verdigre Public Schools and graduated from Verdigre High School in 1997. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from DeVry University in 2000 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology.

Nick had a brilliant mind and a sensitive soul that was a bright light in this world and in the lives of those who shared it with him. His passion and skill for his work brought him great success and the admiration of his peers.

He began his career as a Network/Systems Engineer for Diamond Computers for seven years. In 2006, he started his work for NASA. He joined the team at the NASA Ames Research Center, where he was a Systems Administrator/DevOps Engineer for five years. In 2011, he took the position of DevOps Lead for Piston Cloud Computing. When the company was acquired by Cisco in 2015, he was named Technical Leader. He continued that work until he died.

He was admired by his co-workers for his ability to tackle tough problems and to make everyone around him better. Entire systems at Piston Cloud Computing were named after Nick because of his work.

Nick’s career took him across the country and the world. He lived in Texas, California, and Australia before returning to Colorado.

His quick wit and sense of humor made an impression on everyone he met, and he made friends everywhere he went. His friends knew him as a radiant person who was full of excitement and laughter.

Nick was meticulous in how he approached life, always making the most out of each moment and opportunity. He had a deep drive for perfection and a knack for finding the best of the best — from lines of code to hiking trails to drinks and food, including the most perfect dark chocolate bar.

He will be remembered fondly for the cat ears he liked to wear, as well as his love of Hello Kitty, the Pacific Ocean, and tamago sushi.

Nick is survived by his parents, Rodney and Jane Bartos; siblings, Derek (Hannah) Bartos, Mandy (Tim) Fiedler, and Jared Bartos; grandmother, Janice Maly; niece, Poppy; and many wonderful extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank and Alma Bartos; and grandfather, James Maly.

A small gathering in Nebraska remembering Nick has already taken place. An additional private event will be held in California this spring.

The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (bbrfoundation.org), which funds cutting-edge research for mental health.