Oliver Shane Bartel
On November 3rd, 2020, my only child, my son Oliver, passed away tragically and unexpectedly in his sleep from an undiagnosed heart defect. My Sweet Boy was only fifteen-years-old.
Oliver was my entire world. Born with an auto immune disease, he overcame every obstacle life threw at him and he not only survived, he thrived during his time here on earth. Intelligent beyond comprehension, he was a straight A student, (with a 4.45 GPA!). He was an incredibly talented cellist in his high school Philharmonic Orchestra, a piano player, a black belt in Karate and Jiu Jitsu, and a compassionate friend to everyone he met. He had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. I was blessed with a gift beyond words the day he was born.
Oliver taught me about unconditional love and perseverance. He showed me what determination looked like, and he showed the world how someone so young, yet so wise, can handle life’s obstacles with grace and humbleness. Oliver made me a better person. He brightened every single day. His smile was my joy, and he truly made this world a better place.
I will never understand why he was taken from us, and I cannot imagine a day where the grief isn’t so punishing that it robs me of all breath. I would give anything to have just one more minute with him so I could hold him, and tell him I love him. But life, for all its beauty, cruelly doesn’t work like that. So this is me, holding my son and telling him how I love him more than words. My new reality, while unfathomable, is me doing my best to honor the memory of my beautiful son.
My Sweet Boy – you were, and will forever be, my most treasured gift. I love you, Oliver Shane. I love you more than anything.
XOXO Mom
The Oliver S. Bartel Memorial Scholarship Trust
A memorial scholarship trust has been setup in Oliver's name. Each year this trust will award a Vero Beach High School Orchestra graduating senior $1000 to help continue their musical pursuit in college. This is the only scholarship fund of it's kind for orchestra students at Vero Beach High School.
If you would like to make a donation to the Oliver S. Bartel Scholarship Trust, here are the instructions:
Please mail a check to:
The Oliver Bartel Memorial Scholarship Trust
c/o Vero Beach High School
1707 16th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960
ATTN: Toni Kouns
Please put the following information in the memo field of any donation: Trust Account #6000.15
Thank you in advance to anyone considering donating, it means more to our family than we can possibly express.
2021 - The Oliver S. Bartel Memorial Schlarship Trust was awarded to violinist Bethany Johnson. Congratualtions, Bethany, we wish you the very best in your future endeavors!
2022 - The Oliver S. Bartel Memorial Scholarship Trust was awared to cellist Faith Bebber. Congratualtions, Faith, we wish you the very best in your future endeavors!
2023 - The Oliver S. Bartel Memorial Scholarship Trust was awared to cellist Thomas Miller. Congratualtions, Thomas, we wish you the very best in your future endeavors!
An additional tribute to Oliver Bartel can be found here.
