Michael Bartell
Mike Bartell, 82
Michael Thomas Bartell passed away on June 23, 2026, after a long battle with COPD. He was born on June 6, 1944, in Plainwell, Michigan, to Thomas Bartell and Mary Ann Cutler Bartell. His maternal grandparents, Lloyd and Elsie Cutler, played a big role in raising him.
His times at the family cottage on Cobb Lake in Wayland, MI, were a special part of his youth. When he was 11 years old, he and his cousin Jean saved a man from drowning there. Future President Gerald R. Ford gave him an award for this.
Mike graduated from Lee High School in Wyoming, MI, where he met his future wife, Doris Whitbeck, in the 10th grade. They were true “high school sweethearts.” They dated steadily for 5 years, getting married while finishing their educations. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University.
Mike went on to great success as a salesman in Ophthalmic surgical equipment. Cataract and LASIK surgery changed dramatically during his career, and he had a huge impact on the field, both through his own inventions and by teaching new techniques to others. Eventually, he, Charles Mastellone, and Mike’s wife, Doris Bartell, formed their own surgical equipment company, Microtech, Inc. It became an international company with sales in North and South America as well as Europe. They established lasting relationships with many of the top eye surgeons in the countries where they did business. They helped introduce the new silicone lens and LASIK in the U.S. Being in surgery almost daily, Mike realized the need for a better way to introduce the new silicone lens into the eye after a cataract was removed. Mike invented and patented the “Bartell Shooter” to address this need. With the support of the global pharmaceutical company Allergan, he spent 7 years flying back and forth to California to defend his patent in a landmark legal case that he finally won. In 2000, he sold Microtech to the French company MORIA, which became MORIA, USA. One of the greatest satisfactions for Mike through all of this was the many young people he was able to mentor and start on a good career path.
Mike retired at age 59 and went on to immerse himself in his passion for classic—especially pre-war—cars. He collected, restored, rallied, and raced them. There were many wonderful trips to events in Savannah, Amelia Island, FL, and elsewhere, as well as racing at tracks such as Lime Rock, CT. He was a proud member of the Old York Road Sports Car Club. Mike also had a lifelong love of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He restored quite a few “choppers” and took some grand road trips.
Another big passion in life was Sycamore Spring, the 1733 Bucks County stone house that he and Doris purchased near Doylestown, PA, in 1982. He was able to spend his last days there, as was his wish. It was a true family home with wonderful memories of holidays and meals, gardens, children, friends, and pets. He loved to play card games with friends and was a fierce opponent right up until the end. The Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios was another favorite spot, as was Bell’s Tavern in Lambertville, where Mike and Doris could be found almost every Friday night.
Mike is survived by Doris, with whom he shared 62 years of marriage; daughters Kristin (Jeff Abel) and Kelly; his son Brooks; and his grandchildren Zas, Tarquin, Osha, Quetzal, Evann and Sully. He adored all of his many dogs—most recently his Corgis Bumble, Cricket and Mr. Cooper.
A celebration of Mike’s life will be held on Tuesday, August 11 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 6857 Upper York Road, Solebury, PA 18963; relatives and friends will be received from 10:00 AM until the service begins. A reception will immediately follow at the Barley Sheaf Farm, 5281 York Road, Holicong, PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike’s memory may be made to family friend Paul Steklenski’s Flying Fur Animal Rescue, PO Box 1, Kintersville, PA 18930. info@flyingfur.org
