THE LOSS OF ONE OF NRHS’S GREATS
O
BY EMMA KELLEY
ctober 6, 2020, was a devastating day for the North Royalton community, as beloved science teacher, David Hartmann, sadly passed away. With 24 years of teaching experience at NRHS, Mr. Hartmann was highly esteemed by his students and the teaching staff. At 50, he was a loving husband and father of two children, an amazing colleague, a friend, a coach, and a huge role model/ inspiration for many young students that were lucky to have him as a teacher. 2020 had already been a difficult year for everyone around the world. But, our community was devastated even further by the news of Mr. Hartmann passing away. To express their gratitude and sadness, many former NRHS students paid their respects on Twitter. Eric Purcel, a 2020 graduate, tweeted, “I always thought he’d outlive us all. Crazy I’ll never see him again. He taught me so much more than science and improved the lives of so many. David Hartmann you will be missed.” The day after his passing, students, teachers, and other adults from our community filled the NoRo Nation Twitter feed with heartwarming stories of Mr. Hartmann. And, as expected, the good memories were also shared beyond Twitter. In memory of Mr. Hartmann, a select group of teachers shared their favorite work-related and personal memories of him, all which illuminate how he inspired and cared 6
|
T H E ROYA L N EWS
for the people both in and outside of his own classroom. “A gentle giant,” were the first words that Mr. Hoover said about Mr. Hartmann. The two met in the summer of 2001 when Mr. Hoover began teaching history and coaching football at NRHS. The pair really got to know each other on the field and throughout the next few years of their teaching careers. Mr. Hoover said, “He was just a great guy all around. You could immediately get his sense of humor and he was a very laid back individual.” Though Hartmann’s height may have made him seem a little intimidating at first, he really had the kindest heart and made the most out of his fifty years of life. In agreement, Mr. Nestoff said, “He was a spur-ofthe-moment kind of guy. He had so many amazing stories from Canada and different trips that he went on with his family…what a great way to live life.” Along with his teddy bear-like demeanor, Mr. Hartmann was a confident and humble individual. “He was sure of himself,” said Mr. Drvenkar, another science teacher at NRHS. “He always commanded respect, but he didn’t have to say it… it was just his presence.” As a first-year teacher and coach for three sports, Mr. Drvenkar was trying to keep his nose above water. In doing so, he turned to Mr. Hartmann for help. “He gave me all of his resources
