Robert Bruce (Bob) Bardsley, age 76, of Ventura, California, passed away on May 28, 2024, in Ventura, California. Bob was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts to Frank Bardsley and Alicia Miriam (Daley) Bardsley on January 14, 1948. As a child, his parents recognized his unique talents and enrolled him in the Swain School of Design. He graduated from New Bedford High School in 1965, Platoon Captain ROTC; received a Bachelor of Arts from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth); and earned his Teaching Certification from Bridgewater State College.
His own challenges with dyslexia led him to teach art in the Perceptual Development Program in the New Bedford, Massachusetts public school system for 10 years; and he co-created “The Page”, a children’s activity and cartoon section published in local Plymouth, Massachusetts weekly newspapers. He enjoyed fencing, scuba diving, canoeing, challenging his best friend and later best man to Ping-Pong matches once a week, wrote/directed and filmed Super-8 short movies. He gave up teaching in 1970 and moved his family to Carpinteria, California where he owned and managed Mountain Man Window Cleaning Service. He also worked part-time for the Carpinteria Herald/California Horseman’s News and for fun started The Third Street Band as a singer/songwriter/performer playing guitar and clay whistle.
In 1996, he found himself back on the East Coast where his wife, Susan, was an executive with GLOBAL Encasement, Inc., a protective coatings manufacturing company. He became involved with product testing and promotional sample production. Inspired by the peculiar attributes of the products, he experimented with their application in visual creation. All while enjoying a fascination with weathering gauze. They relocated to Ventura, CA in 2008.
In 60 years, he created hundreds of works of fine art, drawings, paintings, sculptures, mobiles, sports card games, board games, short stories, jokes, 3 screen plays, 1 rock opera, and dozens of original song compositions.
More importantly, he was always seeking the truth, studying the bible and witnessing that Jesus Christ was in fact his Lord and Savior.
Robert is survived by his loving wife, Susan Bardsley and his beloved son, Ian Michael Bardsley; his brother Frank Tonge Bardsley and spouse Carol; Brother-in-laws Robert, Roland, and Raymond Dumas; Sister-in-laws Muriel Wotton, Bernice Golda and Claire Martinez; nieces and nephews Kristin Bardsley and spouse Mark Aiksnoras; Christopher, Paul and Matthew Golda, Rebecca Suzanne Douglas, Nicholas Dumas; grand-nieces and nephews Chase and Hunter Aiksnoras, Elaina and Abram Bardsley; Eric, Lauren, Matthew, James, Jeremiah, Krone and Maddox Golda.
He is pre-deceased by his sister-in-law Jocelyn Dumas Howard, and nephews James Bardsley and Thomas Howard.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Jams Music School, (https://jamsmusic.org/donate). The family wishes to recognize the Star Jasmine Foundation (a 501-C3), 126 Cooper Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 for their commitment to providing high-quality music education and exploration to all, regardless of background or financial situation.
A private service was held under the direction of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001