Renowned Connecticut Sportswriter Bob Barton Dies

FARMINGTON, CT — Bob Barton, one of the longest-tenured and most highly-respected sports media members in Connecticut, passed away Sunday morning. He was 83.

A Farmington resident and 1957 graduate of Yale University, Barton was a writer and copy editor for decades for the New Haven Register. He took delight in reporting Bulldogs football, establishing himself as a knowledgeable historian of the school's gridiron past, and also covered thousands of high school games over the years.

"Bob has had a huge impact on me and our record keeping, and he will be sorely missed," said Steve Conn, Yale associate athletic director. "He was our football historian, the person I considered my writing mentor, a great story teller, a kind and caring person and a real character. The press box at Yale Bowl won’t be the same without his voice and presence coming from the front row."

"So much that we know about the history of Yale football, to its very beginnings, is because of this man's tireless research over 60-plus years," said Sean Barker, digital editor at Hearst Connecticut Media Group, which includes the Register. "So much of what we know about the records for high school football in Connecticut, dating back to the 1800s, is because of Mr. Barton."

Barton voted in the first Register Top 10 football poll in 1961, and also in the season-ending poll last month. For many years, he helped select the majority of All-State football teams, according to Barker, who shared a story of Barton's passion for football on his Facebook page.

"His love for high school football was so passionate (he would map out games to see at the start of every year) that when he and his wife Judy visited Hawaii, he took in a high school football game. A man takes his wife to Hawaii, goes to a high school football game and leaves the island without divorce papers? That's a special man."

Barton was an active member of the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance for many years, and received the organization's Art McGinley Award for meritorious service in 2002. Following the passing of past Alliance president Bo Kolinsky in 2003, Barton chaired the Bo Kolinsky Memorial Scholarship committee, awarded annually to a high school senior planning to major in sports journalism or media.

Television sportscaster and current Kolinsky Scholarship chairman John Holt wrote on Facebook, "Bob was special. Yale educated, a wordsmith in a class of his own. One of his many admirable character traits was his ability to sense when a friend or a colleague could use a kind word, or a note commending their work. He was sensitive to the human covenant to look out for each other. I got to know Bob through the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance and over the last 18 months was honored to have him shepherd me into the position of Kolinsky Scholarship Chairman - a role Bob had previously handled with great detail and care since the scholarship was established in Bo's name. On more than one occasion Bob's words made my day. The encouragement and support he expressed when my job at WFSB was eliminated was meaningful. My last extended conversation with Bob was at the high school football championship luncheon in December. A few days later a letter arrived at my house with Bob apologizing for not having asked how my 12-year was doing as she recuperated from elbow surgery. Bob felt bad that he hadn't asked when we spoke at the luncheon. I felt anything but bad knowing that in 2018 a fellow human would be kind enough to genuinely care about my well-being and my daughter's well-being and feel like he erred in not asking in person. Bob was special. Me and so many others will miss his wisdom and his kindness."

Sports journalists from around the state expressed their admiration for Barton via email and social media.

"A great man and treasured friend - truly one of the most respected media members I've ever crossed paths with," said sports radio host Bob Lazzari. "His encyclopedic mind was incomparable and envied; I'll also miss his dry sense of humor and the professionalism that he incorporated into all his undertakings. The Connecticut sports landscape is not quite the same this morning (and never will be) due to the passing of Mr. Bob Barton. However, I think we can all take comfort in saying that we knew the man - and were privy to his greatness. May this special individual rest in peace."

Ted Glanzer said, "Ten years ago I was newly installed as the sports editor of The Valley Press and, while I knew sports, I had no idea of the lay of the land of Connecticut high school athletics. I took an egalitarian approach to my pages, believing that a free weekly newspaper should cover every sport equally, because 40 members of a crew team means 40 families are just as likely pick up the paper as 40 families of the members of the local lacrosse team. There's some faulty logic in there, but I did it anyway. Some loved it, others not so much. So a month or so into my gig, I wrote a story about the Simsbury rugby team. Out of the blue comes this note from a guy extolling my work and thanking me for highlighting lesser-covered/known sports. He told me he was following me and to keep up the good work. Yep. Bob Barton. It was one of the first times anyone recognized my sports work and, while I didn't know how much the praise meant coming from him, I sure as hell know it now. That man was an absolute gentleman and a giant in our community."

CSWA treasurer Ken Lipshez wrote, "Bob Barton cared. He cared with the utmost compassion for the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance, serving purposefully as the main cog in the distribution of scholarship funds to potential sports writers, fulfilling our organization’s mission to the letter. He cared with deep conviction for Connecticut’s fraternity of scholastic football players since the 1950s. When attending football games across the state became pastime rather than occupation, Mr. Barton still nestled himself anonymously among the cheering sections no matter what the weather."

Barker added, "He was quiet, small in stature, but if you were ever in a press box with him when there was a fumble, the stadium shook when he yelled BALL or FUMBLE. I swear players on the field of Yale Bowl heard him."

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. at First Church of Christ, Congregational, 1652, 75 Main St., Farmington.

Photo credit: Gerry deSimas, Jr./Collinsville Press, courtesy of Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance

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