Harry Hartie

HARRY WILL HARTIE “The Handsome One" 91, of Hartford CT passed away peacefully at home on March 12^thsurrounded by his family. He was born in Akron, Ohio on June 11^th, 1928 to the late Minnie Mea (Redding) Johnson. He was raised by his late aunt Emma (Redding) Hartie, his second mother.

He enlisted in the U.S. Armed Force in 1951, where he fought in the Korean War. He received the Occupational Medal Germany, was stationed in Fort Texas and Honorably Discharged in 1958 at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey. After serving in the Army, Harry made Hartford, CT his home.

Harry went to work for the Hartford Board of Education in 1971, where he became the Community Aide Supervisor/Attendance worker. He supervised five schools: two Fox Middle, two Weaver Highs, and F.O. Jones Schools. His responsibilities were to monitor pupil attendance, parental contacts involving students’ behavior, attitude, and initiated referrals to outside agencies for supportive services to families and students. While working at Weaver High School he made home visits, issued students bus cards and ID’s. But the most important job title was him being a Truancy Officer, he didn’t allow any child that he came in contact with to fall between the cracks. If that meant knocking on doors to find out why they weren’t in school, he did that! He participated in school activities, Voter’s Registration, Youth Congress, Multi-Ethnic Committee, and the Black History Committee.

Mr. Hartie was so big on bring out the greatness in his people and community, that he was involved in almost every organization. He was acknowledge on many different platforms receiving many awards. He participated in some of the following Boards and Committees: NAACP, Operation Push, Urban League, Milner School, Fox Middle School, Weaver and Hartford Public High Improvement Team, Black Men Society, African American  Alliance, Hartford Alliance for Progress and Youth, Civilan Police Review, and the Greater Hartford Flood Commission.

Mr. Hartie was a very proud member of the Republican Party. He also was a Notary Public and the Justice of the Peace he counseled and married countless couples. Bring love together always kept a smile on his face.

Besides all the Boards and Committees that he was a huge part, there wasn’t a day that you couldn’t find him at the North End Senior Center on Coventry Street. The center was true one of his happy places and gave him so much life. He made sure that his family and friends knew just how dedicated he was to them. There was never a time that they needed him and he wasn’t available. Family time was just as important phone calls, breakfast, lunch, and dinner dates were only the tip of the iceberg. He made you feel the outpour of his love that he had to give. Through all his life journeys he took as a life lesson and was able to apply it, use it, and share with other so if the needed it they can apply it. He was such a great teacher in many different aspects. 

Harry leaves behind a son Ronald Lane Plummer of Hartford; a sister Adell Newkirk of Bloomfield; five grandchildren Shane Plummer of Windsor, Tasha Jordan of Vernon, Nicole Jordan of Hartford, Tihri Leggett of Atlanta, and Samantha (Jo'van) Jordan of Manchester; a godson Robert Wooden of Houston; fifteen great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. He also leave three special friends Irma Milton, Willa Wooden and Ruby Reese and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Besides his parents and grandparents, Mr. Harry was predeceased by his daughter Linda Jordan, his granddaughter Tanya Shannon, two brothers Johnny Johns and Thomas Johnson, and his pet dog, Cowboy who he called his son.

The family would like to give special recognition to Mr. Hartie  doctors who took excellent care of him throughout his life and during his illness; Dr. Mark Belsky and staff at Blue Hills Family Medicine, Dr. Joel Silver and staff at Regional Cancer Care Associates, and Saint Francis Hospital Medical Center the Palliative Medicine Unit and the Cancer Center Radiation Oncology. We couldn’t thank you enough on how his medical team pulled together and tried all avenue to make sure he had the best of the best care. He spoke so highly on all that was involved!

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