Medea (Stanborough) Bartlett

Medea Stanborough Bartlett August 1, 1937 - July 10, 2022, Naples, Florida — Medea Stanborough Bartlett passed away on July 10, 2022 at the age of 84 from an extremely aggressive form of brain cancer known as a glioblastoma.

Medea was born on August 1, 1937, in Westchester, New York to Robert Stanborough and Doris MacArthur. The family then moved to Pittsburgh when Medea was in lower school. Medea grew up in Rosslyn Farms, a "Mayberry" town a few miles outside of Pittsburgh, where the houses are all known by the name of the last person who lived there. In addition to her parents, Medea was predeceased by her husband, Alfred Dean Bartlett, and her five sisters. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in English. While working and performing in theater at Pitt University, Medea met Alfred Dean Bartlett. They were married July 23, 1960 shortly after Medea's graduation from college.

As a person loving travel and adventure, Medea moved to Cali, Columbia with Dean for his work as an accountant for Price Waterhouse. She loved the adventure - learning another language, carrying a gun for protection, and learning how to cook many things in a truly "farm to table" style. Cooking became another lifetime passion of hers with many memorable dinners and cocktail parties. Medea and Dean lived in Cali, Columbia for three years before deciding to move back to Pittsburgh to raise a family.

Upon their return from Cali, Columbia Medea and Dean bought a house in Rosslyn Farms where they lived for the next 40 years. She devoted herself to her family and raising her children. Outside of the home, Medea chaired many fundraising events, including the Polo Match raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House. She had a lifetime love for animals and nature. She volunteered at the Pittsburgh Zoo and was delighted when she was permitted to swim with a porpoise named "Chuckles" who needed a friend. Medea also had a passion for sewing which started when she was 14 when her father brought a sewing machine home for her mother. Her seamstress skills were amazing and she quite literally could make anything. For a brief period, she designed bridal headpieces for a New York wedding designer. She was known to stay up all night making herself a new outfit when the inspiration struck.

Medea moved to Naples, Florida in 2003 for her retirement years. She loved Naples – the warm weather and sunshine, the engaged community, her friends, her church, and her choir. She also loved her two ginger cats, Karmie and Georgie "Klooney" ("because he's so handsome" and yes, she intentionally mis-spelled the last name just for fun.)

Medea's greatest love of all, however, was reserved for her family. Medea is survived by her two children, Matthew Bartlett (Laura), Tina Manning (Ken); her five grandchildren, Leland Manning (Dallas, TX), Alex Manning (Atlanta, GA), Rachel Bartlett (Pittsburgh, PA), Katie Bartlett (Pittsburgh, PA) and Hope Manning (Richmond, VA); and her only brother Robert Stanborough (Lou).

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the loving and caring staff at Moorings Park in Naples, Florida.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church at 500 Park Shore Dr., Naples, FL 34103 or the American Cancer Society.