Pauline Gertrude Hart

Born September 30th 1920, Pauline Gertrude Hart crossed over February 14th 2014 at the age of 93.She was proceeded by husband of fifty years Harry Herbert Hart Jr. and daughter Janice Hart-Schreyer. Pauline is survived by son Harry H. Hart III, daughter Judith L. Hart, grandchildren Christopher Jefferson, Hilary Hart-Mettacheck, Che Martinez, Heather Hart, Nichole Hart, Milo Hart; several great-grand children and numerous other family members and friends. Pauline lived a full life from the19th Amendment granting women the right to vote to the first African American President.

Pauline was born in Pittsfield Massachusetts to a financially poor, but lovingly and creatively rich family. Youngest of five children she was a tom-boy who loved going fishing with her brother Albert. As she grew so did her talent for the visual arts and was a gifted painter. As a teen Pauline also enjoyed the other arts such as poetry, the theater, movies and music. She loved actors Clark Gable and Carol Lombard. Musically she enjoyed everything from country to jazz. In fact, being somewhat of a rebellious teen, she would often sneak out of the house to go to the jazz clubs with sisters Norma, May and her nieces from her oldest sister Edith. This is where she met Harry Hart Jr. trumpet player and quite the character. It was love at first sight. It didn't take long for the charismatic Harry to win over Pauline's mother Maude and the rest of the family. At 18 years old Pauline married Harry, Thanksgiving day of 1938, and the adventure began!

In addition to being a talented artist Pauline had a gift for construction. With an eighth grade education she could match any architect's designs and could out hammer any carpenter. That said, Pauline and Harry built their first home in Williamstown Massachusetts. Their home was full of love, music, food and laughter. When their youngest child turned three in the mid 1950s, Pauline convinced Harry that they should head west for more of life's opportunities. Reluctantly Harry agreed, they packed a trailer and the children and headed west. Every time they took off, Harry would shout out "Wagons Ho!" from the TV show Wagon Train. They took their time to see and appreciate the countryside. Unfortunately, while traveling through the south they also saw racism unlike that of the Northeast. This sparked a new part of Pauline...The Activist.

Finally settling in Berkeley California, Pauline and Harry became lifelong friends with other artist and activist. It was the Beatnik era. Pauline was active in the Civil Rights Movement while continuing to raise her children and working with Harry who also being a great chef, had a successful catering business. Pauline also enjoyed family camping, fishing, travel, garage sales and gardening. In 1963 Pauline and Harry bought a home in Oakland, California. As years went on, though Pauline left a large family back east, she acquired a very large extended family. Pauline adopted all her children's friends as her own, they always had a place to stay and food to eat. Pauline was also more than just a grandmother, she helped raise grandchildren when her children needed her. She maintained and passed down the oral tradition of storytelling. Pauline's love of getting her hands dirty drew her to focus her artistic talents on ceramics. She taught ceramics at Oakland's Studio One for years. Pauline's activist days were settling down, however she remained active in the community as a volunteer. She received an award from the Mayor of Oakland in 1989. Pauline's favorite charities were The Heifer Project International, St. Labre Indian School and cancer research.

Just weeks short of their 50th wedding anniversary Harry passed away due to cancer. Pauline being a strong woman continued on with volunteer work, and participated in art shows with her daughter Janice. In 1997, Pauline moved to Seattle Washington where her son Harry (Ted) and daughter Judith (Jude) live. She bought a home and maintained a four generation household with daughter Jude, grandson Che, granddaughter Jessica, great-grandchildren, Jennifer, Jaidlynne and William. Pauline continued to volunteer, working with students from Nathan Hale High to create a mural for the school and joined The Grandma's Club where they knit blankets and hats for drug addicted babies. Pauline enjoyed ceremonies during the summers with her "adopted" family Norman, Cheryl and Jan Chase at the Fort Belknap reservation, Montana. Coincidently she discovered they were descendents of her own ancestors the Algonquian Mahicans.

In 2008 Pauline was diagnosed with terminal cancer, thought to have 4 months to a year to live she was put on Hospice in the home. After two years of renewals, Hospice asked for a new scan which found no cancer! Pauline continued to enjoy life in her home surrounded by family and friends. On Valentine's Day 2014 she quietly crossed over to join the love of her life and continue on their next adventure with the Creator.

A life that made a difference in the world and spirit that will live on in many a hearts...Rest in Peace