Robert Barton Bridges, known as “Bart,” was born on December 15, 1940, in Missouri. He was adopted in April 1941, by LaDaw and Frank Bridges, both professors at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Bart passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Naples, FL, where he and his wife, Glenda, moved in 2021.
Bart attended Carbondale Community High School, where he excelled in multiple sports, lettering in football, basketball, tennis, and track. In his senior year, he qualified for the Illinois state doubles championship in tennis.
He majored in mathematics at Southern Illinois University before deciding to pursue a career in medicine. In 1963, Bart worked as an orderly at Doctors Hospital in Carbondale, where he met Glenda Burgard while delivering her a tray following an appendectomy. Just six months later, they went on their first date, and within a month, they were engaged. They were married on June 20, 1964.
Bart attended medical school at Saint Louis University, graduating in 1968. He then completed an internship in Phoenix, Arizona, followed by a residency in radiology in St. Louis.
In 1972, Bart enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Major with the 101st Airborne Division in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. In 1973, he was honored with the title of Kentucky Colonel.
After his military service, Bart returned to Belleville, Illinois, in 1974 to join Belleville Radiologists at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, where he became a partner and served as Chairman of the group for several years until his retirement in 2001.
Throughout his life, Bart was dedicated to community service. He served on the Belle-Scott Committee, the Signal Hill School Board, and the St. Clair Country Club Board. An avid sports fan, golfer, and pianist, he also enjoyed playing cards with his friends.
Bart was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Franklin Bridges and LaDaw Wainscott Bridges.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Glenda Burgard Bridges; three children, Mark (Nikki) Bridges, Trisha (Terry) Feely, and Becca (Jim) Combs; five grandchildren, Colin Feely, Nick and Rachel Bridges, and Mason and Skyler Combs; and his sister-in-law, Wanda Burgard.
Bart was a man of great humor, warmth, and kindness. The ultimate caretaker, mentor, husband, father, and friend, he was beloved by all. Those who knew him would describe him as someone with a heart full of love, who never met a stranger and didn’t have a mean bone in his body. As one of his late friends shared at his 70th birthday party, “Everyone’s goal in life is to be a Bart—what a winner.”
He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105 or avowcares.org. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date this summer in Belleville, IL.
