Joseph “Bart” Peitz of Ellicott city Maryland passed away on May 16, 2026, at the age of 79.

Bart was born on July 21, 1946, in Baltimore, Maryland to Wilbert H. And Dolores (Lee) Peitz.

He attended grade school at Saint Mary’s Govans in Baltimore and high school at Calvert Hall College in Towson taught by Christian Brothers. Inspired by the Christian Brothers, Bart chose to enter the Novitiate as a Christian brother in 1964. He attended college at LaSalle University in Philadelphia graduating with a degree in English and Religion. He then taught for one year at Central Catholic High School in Philadelphia. From there, he worked at the Brothers Retreat house in Adamstown Maryland with young people. Inspired by his work there, Bart felt it was important to have a family and left the Christian Brothers in 1971.

Bart participated in several careers starting as a supervisor at General Motors and then moving into patient accounting at Sinai Hospital and the former Lutheran Hospital in Baltimore.  He also started a cleaning business and took over the Baltimore Sun newspaper distributorship from his father who had become a Sun Route Owner in 1942. 

Bart’s favorite pastimes were spending time with his family at Ocean City, Maryland, and Bethany Beach, Delaware throughout the years, watching movies and reading.  And his most favorite event was attending the Saint Francis annual oyster roast for over 50 years, beginning with his father and then continuing on with his son David and his grandson Travis.

Above all, Bart cherished his family. Few things brought him greater joy than attending his grandchildren’s sporting events.

Bart is survived by his wife, Mary, with whom he shared 28 loving years of marriage. He also leaves behind three children shared with his first wife Jean, his daughter Kristen Lee O’Neill (Mike), his son David Ryan (Kim) and daughter Jamie Lauren Hill (George). His Legacy continues with his four grandchildren, Alex Elizabeth and Ethan Michael O’Neill, Travis Joseph and Ashley Marie Peitz. He is also survived by two sisters, Mary Dee Heilman (Mike Harbin) and Jennifer Lee Lofgren (Tom) and six nieces and nephews. 

A funeral mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 11 AM with visitation beginning at 10 AM. Interment will be a private ceremony at a later date. 

Please no flowers. The family would appreciate donations made in Bart’s memory to Calvert Hall College.

Calvert Hall College, 8102 LaSalle Road, Towson, MD 21286  www.calverthall.com/giving