Robert Bartoli

My father, Robert Bartoli, died August, 26, 2024. On September 17, he would have been 92 years old. 

This photo was taken years ago, when my Dad was healthy and whole. I didn't get to grow up with Dad - he and my mother divorced when I was just a toddler but I moved to Las Vegas in 1976 to be close to him and get to know him. 

This was when he was young and life was ahead of him.

After my own divorce in the late 70's, I became a dealer because Dad said it would be better than being a cocktail waitress. 

Dad and I bonded over backgammon and cribbage games and he loved to win. He was very competitive! 

I watched him suffer from the effects of radiation he had to his throat from tongue cancer 22 years ago and in recent months, he was unable to swallow because of his previous condition so he was put on a feeding tube. 

My dad was a tough Italian, a fighter, and he fought to the end. He worried about his wife, Marilyn, of 51 years and how she would be after his passing❤️ I'm grateful that my children, Dennis A. Gray, Robin Gray-Duke, Katie Sonntag came to see him recently before he passed and just after my husband, Van's passing. 

I see all these posts of big, loving families, all connected and seemingly warm...my family had disconnections all over the place unfortunately. I am glad that I got to connect with Dad these past many years. 

I love you, Daddy. I pray you are happy and at peace now.

Dad was born during the depression, a time when all Americans were struggling. 

By the time he was 8 years old, my grandfather gave him a shoe shine box and told him to go out and earn money, so he did on the streets of San Francisco, where he was born. Dad was shining shoes and giving his money to my grandmother, which helped feed their family. 

In his teen years, Dad discovered a love of golf, starting out as a caddy but eventually playing himself and becoming really quite good at it. He had his first hole in one on my birthday many years ago!

In his early years in San Francisco, Dad had a hard life, but eventually he moved to Northern Nevada and worked in the gaming industry, later moving to Las Vegas. 

I remember the day I met, Marilyn, his wife of 51 years. Dad was working as a manager in a local bar & lounge here in Vegas and Marilyn was the headliner. I had come to visit Dad long before I moved here myself, with my then, baby son, Dennis A. Gray, who was still in his infant carrier. A lot has happened since those early years.

Dad worked in the gaming industry again years later at the old Aladdin Hotel, as a pit boss in the 21 and dice pits.

Eventually, he and Marilyn got their real estate licenses and Dad became very successful as a building contractor and real estate investor and Marilyn, was successful in the real estate industry as a broker.

The 2008 housing crash really affected them deeply as it did for many since most of his holdings were in real estate. 

In recent years during hard times as an old man, his friend and previous golfing buddy, Kenny Epstein, gave him a job overseeing and sitting box in the dice pit at the El Cortez. Thank you, Kenny.

Robert Bartoli, age 91, passed away on August 26, 2024

His wife of 51 years, Marilyn Bartoli, age 90, also passed away on October 4, 2024 to go be with her beloved husband. 

Robert is survived by his son, Robert Bortoli, and his daughter, Suzanne McGoldrick, her three grandchildren and ten great grandchildren:

Dennis (SuLin) Gray and their children, Colin, Loyal, Cassidy, and Kenzie. 

Robin Gray (Phillip) Duke and their children, Morgan, Max, and Robert. 

Katie (Alex) Sonntag, and their children, Theo, Niko, and Izzy.

In addition, his sister Betty Davi, her two children Claudia and David and their families.

His brother Joe (Peach) Bartoli and their two daughters, Jennifer and Joanna and their families.

His sister, Jeannett Faenzi, and her two daughters, Debbie and Denise and their families.