Sean Bartel, 48, died March 13, 2026, while hiking in Argentina.
Born June 28, 1977, to parents Michele (Pinales) Bartel and Philip Bartel in Cincinnati, OH. Sean grew up in Wyoming, OH, and went to Wyoming High School. He then attended Indiana University, and pursued his passion of broadcast journalism.
He started his career in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and then moved to Evansville, Indiana, where he worked at WEVV, before spending several years at WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky. He was known for his storytelling abilities, and his willingness to help others. His sense of humor stood out in lighter segments.
He moved to Washington, DC in 2010, where he earned his masters degree at George Washington. He then spent 12 years as a senior video producer with the IBEW, before semi-retiring in 2024.
Sean’s travels took him all over the world. Argentina was the 56th country he had visited. He loved seeing everything and getting to meet people from all cultures. His travels made him many friends over the years.
A visitation will be held to honor Sean’s memory, on Sunday, April 12, from 1–4 p.m., at Trio Bistro, 7565 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH.
