In the summer of 2019, a promising life was tragically cut short. Robert 'Bobby' John Bartulewicz III, a 22-year-old Machinist's Mate 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. A resident of Glen Allen, Virginia, Bobby was a graduate of Glen Allen High School, where he had been a dedicated wrestler. His passion and skill in the sport earned him an impressive 8th place finish in the state during his junior year.
Following his graduation in 2015, he answered the call to serve his country, enlisting in the Navy in 2017.
Remembered as a multi-talented and vibrant individual, Bobby was a multi-sport athlete who also excelled in rugby, lacrosse, roller hockey, ice hockey, and cross country. Beyond his athletic pursuits, he was a gifted saxophone player in his high school band. His love for animals was evident in the variety of exotic pets he cared for, including a desert gecko, ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and a chinchilla, in addition to his beloved dachshund, Swirls. In his naval career, he served as an engineer aboard the USS George H.W. Bush.
On that fateful July day, Norfolk Police were called to a parking lot around 12:30 a.m. for a report of a man slumped over in a vehicle. Tragically, they discovered Bobby inside. He was pronounced dead at the scene from what was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation into his death was handled by the Norfolk Police, who classified the cause as suicide. His passing was one of several suicides among sailors assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush that year, prompting an investigation by Hampton Roads authorities and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The investigations, however, did not find a connection between the deaths. There were no suspects or arrests made in connection with his death.
