Robert B Hartman

Robert B Hartman of Bridgeport, CT, at age 100 passed away peacefully on January 22, 2025. 

Mr. Hartman was born April 21, 1924 in Lancaster, Pa, son of the late John and Loneita Hartman. After graduating from Lawrenceville Academy he earned a BSE from Princeton University and served two years in the United States Navy during World War II as an Electronic Technician's Mate. After the Navy Mr. Hartman received an MSE from Princeton Graduate College and in 1948 joined the Remington Arms Co., a subsidiary of DuPont, in Bridgeport, CT. He has been a resident of Bridgeport since 1948 except for a five-year period when his job took him to Chicago. During his nearly forty years with Remington, he held numerous positions, including Superintendent of Product Control Services in Chicago and Manager of the Exploratory Research Division in Bridgeport, CT, a position he held upon retirement in 1983. During his Remington career, he was awarded over two dozen patents in such diverse fields as electronics, fluidics, optics and mechanics. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Fluid Power Society, the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers, the Instrument Society of America and the honorary engineering Sigma Xi Society. 

After retirement Mr. Hartman volunteered at the Museum of Art, Science and Industry, now the Discovery Museum, in Bridgeport, Ct. designing and building interactive exhibits and giving science lectures for nearly ten years. He presented seminars on Communications to the American Management Association in New York and was President of the Brooklawn Fund. He served on the boards of the Bridgeport Architectural Conservancy, the Children's Museum of New Haven, Alpha Home, 3030 Park Health Care Inc, 3030 Park Health Systems, Inc., and the Watermark and 3030 Park Residents Council. He was president of the Contemporary Club of Bridgeport, and Chairman of the Stratfield Historical District. He was a member of the University Club of Bridgeport, Fayerweather Yacht Club, Black Rock Yacht Club, Naval Veterans Port 5 and was very active in his local Episcopal Churches having served, among other positions, as property committee chair, vestryman, treasurer, clerk of the vestry and warden. His interests included travel, photography, tennis, sailing, singing (he was a member of the Princeton Glee club) and woodworking. He would spend hours in the wood shop and create art, furniture, a miniature golf course and fix/make things for people. He has presented workshops and lectures on scrimshaw, photography and travelogues at both the Discovery and Bruce Museums. 

Mr. Hartman was preceded in death by his sister Helen Hartman Gemmill of Bucks County PA, brother John I Hartman Jr. of Lancaster PA, sister Phyllis Youngquist of Lancaster PA, and his beloved wife Mary E Shenk Hartman. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins, whom he enjoyed entertaining with jokes, pranks, and card tricks. 

Memorial services will take place at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Old Post Road, Fairfield at 2:00 pm on Saturday Feb 8. The Spear Funeral Home, 39 S. Benson, Fairfield, Ct 06430 is handling arrangements. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 661 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT.06430 or St. John's Episcopal Church, Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, Ct.