Robert "Bob" Carl Bartosz

Bob Bartosz (1937 – 2024) Bob Bartosz, legendary fireman and photographer, died on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at his home in Battleboro, North Carolina.Bob was born and grew up in Camden, New Jersey. Bob found the passion of photography at a young age and applied it documenting the bravery and brotherhood of firemen in their heroic duties fighting fires. From a young age and through his senior years, it was common to find Bob at the local firehouse or rushing to the scene of a fire, camera in hand or fire helmet on his head. This blending of photography and fire fighting service continued for the rest of his life. At the age of 17, Bob was appointed the official Fire Photographer for Camden County. Then ten years later, he became the Fire Photographer for the City of Camden Fire Department, and eventually bestowed with the rank of Honorary Battalion Chief in the Camden Fire Department commemorating his decades of service. Bob worked as Staff Photographer for the Courier Post Newspaper in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. His photographs received over a hundred awards from local, national, and international Press Photographer and Fire Photographer Associations. Bob’s photography work was featured in a National Fire Photographers Association reference for fire scene photography and fire investigations. Bob’s photographs can also be scene at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum. It was during his time as photographer for the Courier Post that he expanded his role covering the hottest news stories to photographing Philadelphia Phillies baseball games. Bob’s action-focused photos were appreciated by newspaper readers and well as major league baseball team players. The baseball card industry recognized Bob’s photography talents, and he served as photographer for the Fleer and Donruss baseball card companies. Bob had an eye for seeing creative photo opportunities, such as his popular Black & Blue Fleer cards featuring baseball players Bud Black and Vida Blue Bob did not experience firefighting only from behind the camera lens. After serving as a Camden County Police Officer for a decade, Bob joined his local Pennsauken Volunteer Fire Department, Company No. 2 and began decades of service fighting fires. Bob joined a group of like-minded Camden County police, fire, and rescue squad leaders in the development and formation of what would become the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund, having the purpose of rendering financial and educational assistance to the surviving spouse and children of County law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. During the early years of the Fund, a photograph taken by Bob of his two children and police officer and fireman comrades served as the inspiration for the organization’s logo. Bob published his acclaimed firefighting photographs in several books, the first entitled Black, White, and Red All Over in 1971, then Tin Helmets Iron Men – Philadelphia Fires 50’s-60’s-70’s in 2001, and later co-authoring Nash County Heroes 24/7 in 2016. Bob’s photographs have also graced the covers and pages of many firefighting and fire engineering publications and websites. Along with his wife Pat, Bob was an avid Civil War memorabilia collector and proprietor of a sports card and memorabilia store in his early retirement years. Bob and his wife later moved to Battleboro, North Carolina. Not one to rest his passion, Bob began sharing his firefighting knowledge and photography skills with the local Rocky Mount Fire Department and served as the fire photographer for their Department and Nash County for several years, receiving the Distinguished Service Award. Bob was also recognized for his support to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Bob is survived by his wife Patricia (nee Evans), son Robert Bartosz (Christine), daughter Debra Holmes and grandchildren Kyle Johnson, Joshua Bartosz, and Natalie Holmes who belovedly called him Pop. Farewell will be held at 10am on Saturday, June 8 at Cornerstone Funeral Home on 1052 S. First Street, Nashville, NC 27856 with escort by local Fire Departments and the North Carolina Troopers Association Caisson Unit to the Nash County Sheriff’s Office in Nashville to begin journey back to New Jersey. Burial services with Fire Department honors will be held at 11am on Monday, June 10 at Lakeview Memorial Park, 1300 Route 130 North, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be scheduled at a later date in both the South Jersey and Rocky Mount areas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund at 162 W. White Horse Pike, Berlin, NJ 08009 or the North Carolina Troopers Association Caisson Unit at PO Box 840, Summerfield, NC 27358.

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Robert "Bob" Carl Bartosz

June 3, 1937 - May 28, 2024