Obituary of Thomas Hartman

Monsignor Thomas "Tom" John Hartman On February 16, 2016, Father Tom passed away after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Father Tom was being visited and cared for by family, friends, and staff at the Town House Center in Uniondale, NY. Father Tom was 69 years old. Father Tom attended St. Aidan School in Williston Park, NY and St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary in Uniondale, NY before enrolling at Seminary of Our Lady of the Angels in Albany, NY. He earned his Doctorate of Ministry from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. He was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on May 29, 1971 for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. Father Tom also served as Chaplain for the New York Jets and the Nassau County Police Department. Father Tom was a bridge builder and a masterful communicator. He was equally comfortable in a room of political and religious dignitaries, celebrities, corporate executives, and sports figures, as well as a room full of AIDS patients facing their final days. He spent the majority of his ministry in diocesan television at Telecare. As part of of the God Squad with Rabbi Marc Gellman, he communicated an interfaith message through television, radio, and newspaper mediums. Father Tom frequently appeared as a religious commentator on national television and radio shows including CNN, Good Morning America, Fox News, and the Imus in the Morning show. He wrote three books on spirituality and co-authored four other books for children and adults. He co-wrote weekly columns for Tribune Media and Newsday. Father Tom won four Emmys for his television work and received countless awards and honorary degrees for his extraordinary accomplishments. Father Tom devoted tremendous time and energy to raising funds for those in need, and most of all, for those with AIDS and those with Parkinson's, causes near and dear to his heart. Tens of millions of dollars were raised by Father Tom, helping to provide comfort and research for those who needed it most. His legacy continues with the Thomas Hartman Center for Parkinson's Research at Stony Brook University. Perhaps most of all, he brought peace, reaffirmed faith, celebrated the important moments and comforted during the hardest for thousands of people over the course of his life. His intellectual curiosity, his great desire to forge friendships and celebrate faith in all of its forms, his deep and abiding spirituality, and his immense generosity and warmth meant there were few who met him who didn't consider him a source of strength and a great friend from that point forward. A loving son, brother, uncle, priest and man of the people, Father Tom lived his life with joy, love, dedication, and most of all, faith. To the world, he was Father Tom, but to his family, he was Tommy - the kindest, wisest, most interesting family member imaginable. He gave his all to others, and yet he always kept his family the most important priority with family trips, golf outings, special projects with nieces and nephews, and time in Montauk. He presided over countless family marriages, baptisms, and even funerals, making them even more special with personal and celebratory anecdotes. He will be tremendously missed. Father Tom was predeceased by his father, Herman Hartman, and brother, Gerard Hartman. He is survived by his mother, Sheila Hartman, his sisters Sheila Mohrman (Thomas), Joanne Peluso (Richard), Eileen Zraick (John), and his brother John Hartman (Maribeth), seven nieces, four nephews, four great nieces, and seven great nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thomas Hartman Center for Parkinson's Research at Stony Brook University College of Arts and Sciences c/o Jane MacArthur E3320 Melville Library Stony Brook, NY 11794-3391. Reposing will take place at St. Aidan's Church 505 Willis Ave Williston Park, NY on Friday from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Mass of Transferral at 7:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday 11:00 AM at St. Aidan's Church. Rite of Committal will take place at Holy Rood Cemetery.