Bernice Nadine Repasky passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2024. A longtime resident of the greater Orlando area, Nadine was born on January 22, 1931 in New Castle, PA to J. Donald Bartlett and Beulah (Balmer) Bartlett.
She had 5 sisters. After high school graduation from Union Township High School she obtained an AA degree from New Castle Business School and at times could be seen on the top of multi-person pyramids water skiing in Lake Erie.
Nadine married her high school sweetheart, Robert , and had three children (Timothy, Mark, Suzan). The family moved to Florida when the children were all under 5 years old and after a divorce a few years later she raised them as a single, working mother—successfully, we might add.
She worked for Martin Marietta from 1961 to 1981in many different positions, working her way up through six promotions. While there she served as a leader and mentor in the Jr. Achievement program. In 1981 she retired and opened her own business, Temp World, a temporary employment agency. Tim and Suzan worked with their mother to establish a very successful business which grossed one million dollars in its third fiscal year.
While a business owner in Orlando she served as treasurer of the American Business Women’s Association and was a member of the National Association of Female Executives. Nadine helped spearhead formation of the Horizon Club on the top floor of the old CNA building downtown , her response to the Citrus Club’s refusal to accept women members when she tried to join.
In 1984 Nadine was recognized as the Woman of the Year by the Orlando Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. In 1985 Nadine was awarded “Small Business Person of the Year” by the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce. She is listed in the Who’s Who and Why of Successful Florida Women; selection criteria include innovativeness of product or service, staying power, growth in sales and community involvement. In 1986 she was a Florida delegate to the White House Conference on small businesses. She met with President Reagan and submitted recommendations to congress related to small businesses. She was very involved in her community and supported many charitable organizations.
She sold her business in 1987 and found she excelled at remodeling. She loved buying properties and remodeling them. Nadine loved the beach and deep-sea fishing, spending time at the Elks Club in Winter Park where she was one of the first woman Elks with voting rights, not satisfied with being a Doe in the kitchen. She enjoyed gambling in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and the Bahamas and spending time at the Mousetrap lounge in Cocoa Beach during her kids’ teen years. She was known for Christmas parties at her home and her business. Champagne was one of her favorite drinks and she was always happy to share a toast. An avid fan of the Buccaneers and Gators, she always enjoyed watching football. Nadine loved to entertain and dance, and could occasionally be heard singing one of her favorite songs “Burning Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash.
Nadine was preceded in death by her parents, 3 sisters, her oldest son Tim and his wife Amy. She is survived by her son Mark (Terri), grandsons Dylan and Tanner Repasky, daughter Suzan Lewis (David), granddaughter Dakota Cook (Geoff), and bonus grandson, Jason Lewis.