John was born in Pittsburgh, PA on September 7, 1935 to Mary Sweeney and John Joseph Hartnett and to the delight of his only sister, Mary Kay. John was very lucky to have been loved by both the family he was created by and then the family he created. After growing up in the Chicago and Detroit areas, he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps for the country he loved. [Please never say “pants” and always say “trousers.” It is not a “hat,” it is a “cover.”]
John Hartnett entered the automotive industry sponsored by General Motors’ auspicious “Previews of Progress” initiative. He travelled the country evangelizing GM’s cutting edge technologies to unsuspecting groups and schools. Once, while experiencing their own car trouble in the heartland of the country, he and his trained associates decided to do a full technology demonstration of these “space-age” innovations to a field of newly enlightened cows. His humor was inane and infectious.
While representing GM at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, John met a woman that initially resisted the totality of his charms, but eventually succumbed to his tenacity. This woman would eventually validate his merit by not only proximity but by acceptance of his humor. Besides being smart she was also good looking, so clearly this guy was lucky. John first proposed to Joyce on their second date. She ignored this, along with other future advances, through a tumultuous relationship that culminated in John’s booking a flight with her [her occupation at the time was an American Airlines Stewardess] where he conveniently introduced her to his father upon landing.
John Hartnett married Joyce Hooks on a sunny day in 1966 in Salem, MA, they then settled in Kansas City, MO.
In 1968, John and Joyce welcomed their first daughter, Shannon Hooks, while living in beautiful Troy, MI. Seemingly on the run from the law, the new couple again relocated, briefly residing in Hamburg, NY and then, unwittingly, relocated to Northridge, CA. There they celebrated another endeavor into planned parenthood with daughter, Heather Healey. All to the fanfare of a large aftershock of the 1971 earthquake, centered directly under their address. Many new neighbors and lifelong friends were met there.
General Motors opened many opportunities to John’s creativity and enthusiasm, sometimes knowingly. In this, his advancement in the field of Public Relations was swift and glorious. The GM road to his future included stops in Dallas, TX, Ramsey, NJ and ultimately the Washington, DC area.
He raised a family that proudly defended a truly American product with genuine safety regard. In Washington, he and his close friends made good ideas a reality with burgeoning partnerships aligning automotive forces with the aerospace and technology fields, namely NASA, Hughes Aerospace, EDS and Siemens. John made great friends with members of the National Press Corps and was graced to have met and worked with many U.S. Presidents. His success ultimately got him called back to Detroit where GM is headquartered.
Having relocated 29 times in his life, he finally returned to the Washington DC area where he finished his professional communications career at the American Association of Railroads. Once retired he dedicated time and attention to his loving wife, daughters, grandson, and multiple canine family members, namely Hobbes, Tupelo, Larry Longnose (the neighbor kids thought his name was “Larry Goddamnit”), Dizzy, and Barley.
To know John was to know that he loved watching Notre Dame football on mute, saltine crackers with toppings, Elvis, making handmade signs and detecting smells before anyone in the room. He did not appreciate Jane Fonda or boating.
His best day was waking up without an alarm, going down to the City Dock coffee shop, meeting up with friends and sitting on the bench with Barley to watch people passing by. He knew he was lucky. He knew he was loved. He wished he had better plumbing. He stayed curious and concerned with world events. He brought joy and humor to so many people he met. He lived a beautiful life and will be missed enormously. He would advise you to tell the people you love that you love them.
He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary Hartnett; his sister Mary Kay Ulrich and her son Clifford Ulrich.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Hooks Hartnett; his daughters Shannon Hartnett and Healey McBride; his grandson Seamus Getlo McBride; Bob, Jim, Peter and Michael Ulrich; David, Matthew and Jennifer Hooks; Peter, Mary, Daniel and Jeffrey Hooks; Ann, Robert, Taylor and Christopher Reardon… and finally his golden retriever Barley, the best advertisement for canine companionship since “little Timmy fell in the well.” [Lassie reference]
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you consider donations to the following groups:
SPCA of Anne Arundel County
Donations accepted at www.aacspca.org in honor of John Hartnett.
Annapolis Ambulance Memorial Fund
https://www.annapolis.gov/293/Donate-to-the-Fire-Department
The AFD Ambulance Memorial Fund is an account which has been in place for over 45 years to collect funds designated to be used exclusively for items needed for the enhancement of the Emergency Medical Services Division. Please make checks payable to the City of Annapolis and reference "Ambulance Memorial Fund.” 1790 Forest Dr., Annapolis, MD 21401.
SERVICES:
Friends and family are invited for a visitation Saturday, January 12th from 9 - 10:15 am at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, located at 147 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis MD 21401.
A Funeral Mass is scheduled immediately following at St. Mary’s Parish Catholic Church at 10:30, the same day, in Annapolis, located at 109 Duke of Gloucester St. (walking distance from funeral home.)
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.11.1