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John R. Hartman, August 23, 1940 - July 8, 2001, age 60, a native of Brooklyn, New York, and a resident of Los Lunas since 1990, died at his home on July 8, 2001 following a long and courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his sister, Joanne of New York; and his brother, George of Pennsylvania. John was an elementary school teacher. He came to teaching only in his early fifties after moving to New Mexico and considered the profession the finest achievement of his life. He said that teaching children in their most formative years was the most awesome and rewarding responsibility he had ever shouldered. He loved his young charges and was gratified to work with and learn from his many excellent colleagues. John graduated from Hunter College in New York City in 1973, the College of Santa Fe in 1991, and took his Master's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico in 1997. He did his student teaching at Dennis Chavez Elementary in Los Chavez and at Peralta Elementary, after which he taught at Collet Park and Dennis Chavez elementary schools in Albuquerque. At the time his illness was diagnosed in 1998, John was a teacher at Colinas del Norte Elementary School in Rio Rancho. Among his accomplishments as an educator, he was very proud of his study of kinesis in the elementary school classroom, for which he won a grant to construct the innovative desk/workstation he invented in line with his theories. Music was an important part of John's private life. As a young man he possessed a tenor voice of great potential and was a protégé of the Russian soprano Anna Royak. Disillusionment with the world of professional music led him to abandon his dream of a singing career, but all his life he cherished his youthful association with Madame Royak, albeit with his special brand of wry humor, a trait his friends will surely miss. Some years later, he took up piano for personal enjoyment and became a competent player under the tutelage of his close friend, the accompanist and opera commentator Carol Longoni. He filled his home with song. John loved traveling both at home and abroad and was a great aficionado of tennis and ice-skating. He was also a great lover of animals and besides his own beloved pets he gave a home to many dispossessed and feral friends over the years. John was a devout Catholic and an avid pilgrim. He was especially drawn to Medjugorje where he stayed on five occasions. He also spent periods at La Salette, Lourdes and Fatima. Remembering his own childhood in foster homes and orphanages, he was a generous supporter of a Catholic orphanage in war-torn Yugoslavia and later Macedonia. Heartfelt thanks go to Tina Baraque, Helena Herrington, the Los Lunas volunteers Monica Barreras and Marcia Wolfe, and the entire team at Lovelace Hospice for the warm and tender care they gave John in his last months. A debt of gratitude is owed to Dr. Mitchell Binder, Susan Orchard, and the wonderful group in the Oncology Department at Lovelace Hospital who worked so splendidly to help John through this final chapter of his life. John requested no ceremony. Interment was at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th ST. NW. Albuquerque. 505-343-8008.
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