Roderic Michael Hartung

Old Lyme - Roderic Michael Hartung, of Old Lyme, a longtime architect, sailor, and creative spirit, passed away peacefully at home Aug. 27, 2026. “Rod” as he was known, was born Sept. 29, 1938, to William A. Hartung Sr. and Elizabeth M. Hartung (Curtin) in Hartford.

Rod spent most of his school years living at Old Colony Beach in Old Lyme. He graduated from Old Lyme High School in 1956, and attended the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and was honorably discharged.

Rod’s early career involved working in New York City for the architectural firm of Ulrich Franzen and Associates. He was assigned as a project architect to Phillip Morris, a position that took him to Philip Morris buildings throughout Europe, Latin America and many parts of the United States.

Rod eventually purchased more than 16 acres in Old Lyme, where he designed and built his own home. Surrounded by nature, the house reflected his appreciation for the land and his ability to blend creativity with the natural world. With characteristic vision and ingenuity, he transformed a stream and bog on the property into a pond. After completing his home, Rod established his own architectural practice in Old Lyme, where he worked for many years before moving his practice to Essex after purchasing and redesigning an old, run down building on Novelty Lane.

Rod was a talented and successful architect, having designed numerous large scale residences, mostly in the Connecticut River Valley and shoreline areas. He was the recipient of many architectural awards over his more than 50 years career, including the Connecticut Society of Architects Honor Award in multiple years. Competing against a multitude of other architectural firms, Rod was selected to design handicap accessible modifications to Gillette Castle. Rod often provided architectural services pro-bono to non-profit organizations. Architecture remained an enduring passion throughout Rod's life. He never fully retired, nor did he ever lose his enthusiasm for designing, reading historical literature, building, and creating.

Rod’s recreational passion, for over 65 years, was sailing. “Later in life, he loved to race his beloved Genesis and was a long-time member of both the Essex Corinthian Yacht Club, as well as the Essex Yacht Club.

He enjoyed sailing on Long Island Sound along with leisurely trips up to Hamburg Cove, where he would anchor the boat and swim with friends and family. These peaceful days on the water brought him great joy.

Rod was dearly loved by his many nieces and nephews, who would eagerly anticipate Rod’s arrival at family holiday events. A big kid at heart, he enthusiastically joined whatever game or adventure was underway. Family gatherings invariably included gag gifts passed back and forth, along with highly contested games that Rod embraced with enthusiasm and a playful competitive spirit. His humor, infectious laugh, curiosity, and genuine enjoyment of time spent with family created memories they will always treasure.

Rod's creative energy extended well beyond architecture. His final venture was planting an orchard on one of the hills of his property that he named “Indian Ridge Orchard,” where he cultivated 74 peach, pear, and apple trees. It was a fitting reflection of his vision, patience, and lifelong desire to create something meaningful.

Rod is predeceased by his parents, William and Elizabeth Hartung; and his brother Bill Hartung and his wife Loretta Hartung; his sister Elizabeth “Nancy” H. Brodeur and her husband Donald Brodeur Sr; his niece Elizabeth M. Brodeur; his nephew Timothy Brodeur and his wife Terri Brodeur.

He is survived by ten nieces and nephews: Donald Brodeur Jr. and his wife Karen, Jonathan Brodeur and his wife Susan, Christopher Brodeur and his wife Meg, Rosemary Cairns and her husband Michael, Eric Brodeur and his wife Stacie, Stephan Brodeur, Stephanie Brodeur, Marc Brodeur and his wife Jen, Tina Fenton and her husband Mark, and David Hartung. He is also survived by 28 grandnieces/nephews; and eight great-grandnieces/nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Christ the King Church. Burial will be private. To share a memory of Rod or send a condolence to his family, please visit Fulton-Theroux Funeral Service at www.dignitymemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at 34 Washington St., Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 https://curealz.org, to the Connecticut River Museum, 67 Main Street, Essex, CT 06426 https://ctrivermuseum.org or to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation, 187 Williams Street, New London, CT 06320 https://tbbcf.org.