A TRIBUTE TO STEPHANIE BARTIS 
BELOVED FRIEND

 

Stephanie Bartis, cherished wife, sister, aunt, nona, and friend, passed peacefully on October 11, 2025. She is survived by her dear wife, Kathy Clark; and beloved family, Anastasia Bartis, Adriana Lane and Peter Vogiatzis, Izabela Lane, Jim, Patti, Ellie and Nick Bartis, Kelly Mason, Michael and Aidan Bergman, Caitlin Watkins, Marc, Wendi and Cole Mason. She is preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Willowdean Bartis. The family is eternally grateful for all the calls and visits that Stephanie received in her final days.

Stephanie grew up in Greensboro where she excelled in the classroom, swimming pool, and most remarkably in the arts. A true renaissance woman, she was a talented artist, wrote beautifully, and above all was musically gifted. Stephanie attained her Bachelor of Arts in Music from UNC in 1984. Stephanie earned a Masters of Vocal Performance from Ithaca College. In 1994, Stephanie opened her own business, Bartis Creative Studio, where she taught Kindermusik. Over the course of 14 years, countless children sang songs, banged drums, and squeaked out their first painful notes on a recorder in Stephanie's classes. A National Board Certified Professional teacher, Stephanie devoted her career to sharing the joy of music and the arts. For the last 20 years, along with art teacher Stacy, Stephanie taught music in Guilford County Schools. Among many other achievements, Stephanie secured a grant for the arts in Greensboro's schools serving under-privileged children.

Together with Kathy, Stephanie built a home filled with love for family and friends, especially children. When you visited the house, you felt joy, safety, and a sense of true specialness. Breakfast and "coffee parties" were regular events.

Stephanie had a generous heart and a true love of giving. She was known for her "spontaneous generosity," always finding thoughtful ways to surprise others with gifts they had mentioned or things she knew they needed.

For many years, Stephie and Kathy took the love show on the road in a mechanical RV named Stubby. Lucky guest campers were treated to tubing in the rivers of Appalachia, food cooked on a stick, and songs sung by a fire. Stephie overcame her fear of flying over water and went on numerous trips to the Caribbean and Europe. No place abroad could exceed her love for Bald Head Island, N.C. This was her happy place, and the whole family cherishes our memories there.

You wanted Stephanie in your corner. She loved with ferocity and supported her people with strength, loyalty, and grace, using high intelligence, uncompromising passion, and an iron will to advocate for her loved ones and stand for her beliefs.
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