Former Pointer and Pop Warner football coach Steve Bartel died last week at the age of 64. Bartel, a member of the PLHS Class of 1972, coached at the Pee Wee level during Point Loma Pop Warner’s inaugural years in 1970s, working with late head coach Steve Tornay, a local attorney. Later, Bartel served as an assistant football coach with the high school team from 1977-1980. He began a long career at SDSU in 1981, serving in the athletic equipment room for 20 years before moving to a position as facility operations coordinator. He was nearing retirement at the time of his death. In 1988 he was named “Equipment Manager of the Year” by the Athletic Equipment Managers Association. Among his credits was assisting Holiday Bowl teams over the years as well as the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins before Super Bowls in San Diego. Bartel, a Point Loma resident, is survived by his wife Vicki and three sons.