Kenneth "Gary" Bartoo

Kenneth "Gary" Bartoo, former principal of Iroquois Middle School from the mid-1970s until 1998, died on Saturday, October 26, 2024. He was 84. Mr. Bartoo was born in Wellsboro, the son of Glenn Kenneth Bartoo and Doris (née Bixby) Bartoo. He is survived by his wife, Marianne Palmisano; step daughter Cathleen Healey; brother, Ron (Marie); children, Nicholas (Helen), Kara (Geoffrey) Beatty, and Jamie (Randy) Cayea; grandchildren, Jessica (Winston) Jeffries, Joseph, Hannah, Gordon, Madison, and Samuel Kenneth; nephew, David; nieces, Donna (Jeffrey) Socola and Deborah Nanna. Mr. Bartoo graduated from Cowanesque Valley High School, West Chester University and Temple University in Pennsylvania. He became a science teacher and later science department chair, baseball coach and principal at Iroquois Middle School. As a principal, he was instrumental in implementing the school's interdisciplinary team-teaching approach, and he was proud to implement the school's first computer lab, homework hotline and other innovations. Upon his retirement, Mr. Bartoo served as a volunteer at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and at various National Parks and Native American Reservations. Mr. Bartoo lived in the Town of Wales for over 40 years and was active in the Kiwanis Club of Wales, serving as its president from 1982 to 1983. A memorial service is planned for Nov. 23, at 11 a.m., at Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home, 139 Main St., Wellsboro, PA 16901. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Kiwanis Club of Wales, P.O. Box 143, Wales Center, NY 14169.