Charles Hartman

Cobleskill- Charles Blair Hartman, 73, of Clinton Circle died Thursday, May 19, 2016 at Bassett Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born April 16, 1943 in Bloomsburg, PA, he was the son of the late Albert and Sarah (MacDougall) Hartman.

Blair Hartman joined the Rotary Club of Cobleskill in 1985 and served as president in 1989-90. He served as secretary for 14 years, as Youth Exchange chairperson for 16 years and as the sponsoring club representative to Troop 5 Boy Scouts for 26 years. He received his club's Rotarian of the Year award in 1989-90 and again in 1991-92. Blair was a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society and a Major Donor. At the District level he co-chaired the Youth Exchange Program, was the correspondent to Brazil for the Youth Exchange Program, served as District Conference chairperson for 1995-96, was a member of the GSE (Group Study Exchange) District Committee, and GSE Team Leader for West Africa in 1999 and for Brazil in 2007. He is a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute and attended five Rotary International Conventions. He served as the Governor for Rotary District 7190 in 2004-05.

Retiring in 1998, after 33 years, from his full-time position as a mathematics teacher for Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District, he continued to work part-time as the Director of Stage and Lighting. He was an adjunct professor of mathematics for SUNY Cobleskill for eight years.

Blair received his M.S. degree from SUNY Albany and his B.S. from Bloomsburg University in PA. He also completed graduate work at SUNY Oneonta and Union College. His professional memberships included the New York State United Teachers Association, the National Education Association, the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

In his community, Blair was a member of the Board of Directors and treasurer for the Cobleskill Sunshine Fair, treasurer of the Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School All Sports Booster Club since 1982, and wa s member of the Board of Directors for Literacy Volunteer of America, Schoharie Chapter, serving as treasurer from 1999-2003.

A member of the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, Blair served on the Finance Committee and the Annual Fund Raising committee.

Blair enjoyed traveling, gardening, photography, surfing the net, cooking on the grill, seeing a good movie, and being host to a large number of exchange students over the years.

He is survived by his three brothers: Richard L. (Eileen) Hartman of Clayton, NC, Carey (Nancy) Hartman of Harrisburg, PA, and James (Heidi) Hartman of Clayton, NC; nieces and nephews: Lynnette (Todd) Davies, Lee (Tera) Hartman, Jeffrey (Cathy) Hartman, and Sarah Hartman; grandnieces and grandnephews: Josiah and Bethany Davies, Andrew and William Hartman, Jonathan and Annmarie Hartman, and Travis and Pamela Hartman; one aunt and two uncles.

A funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Monday, May 23, 2016 at United Methodist Church, 107 Chapel St., Cobleskill with Rev. Pamela Mikel Hayes officiating and Rev. Richard Hartman assisting. Family and friends are also invited to a period of visitation to be held at the church on Sunday, May 22, 2016 from 2 to 4PM and 6 to 8PM. Burial will be Tuesday, May 24, 2016 in the family lot at Benscoter Cemetery, Hunlock Creek, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cobleskill Rotary care of Olive Scott, 116 Parkway Drive, Cobleskill, NY 12043 for the Student Exchange Program or Paul Harris Fellowship.