Frederick W. Hartmann, 90, passed away peacefully of natural causes on March 14, 2018, in Jacksonville, Florida, where he resided for close to 40 years. He was born February 3, 1928, in Wilmington, Delaware to William and Luise Hartmann. Fred attended the University of Delaware for a year before going in the Army in 1946. He was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he was a company clerk and then went on special assignment teaching grown men how to swim, where he also played football for a team that was composed entirely of African-American soldiers. In 1948, he returned to the University of Delaware and graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor’s degree in English and then received his Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He developed his love of words by reading books as a child and from his high school English teacher. He was the sports editor for his high school paper and was the sports editor, then later the editor of The Review, the school paper at the University of Delaware. He began his career as a radio desk rewrite man for the Associated Press in NYC, and then returned to Wilmington where he worked as a general assignment reporter for The Wilmington Morning News. He eventually became metro editor then the executive editor of the Wilmington News-Journal. Mr. Hartmann is the former editor of The Florida Times-Union where he worked for 18 years before retiring in 1998. Mr. Hartmann previously was on the board of directors of The St. Johns River City Band for more than 20 years.
Mr. Hartmann was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Mary Lu Hartmann. He is survived by his five children, Michele M. Marsh, Randi L. Saunders, Drew Hartmann (Nancy), Eric W. Hartmann (Brenda), Adam N. Hartmann, three grandchildren, Angela L. Marsh, Ash Saunders (Macy), Allison Hartmann and two great-granddaughters, Madeline Lafferty and Sutton Elizabeth Saunders.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., at Oaklawn Chapel & Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32207. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Frederick W. Hartmann Fellowship at the University of Florida. https://www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/008143-frederick-w-hartmann-fellowship
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HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.
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