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    Hartman, first Columbia All-American, dead at 84

    Bob Hartman, first wrestler to earn NCAA All-American honors for Columbia University who went on to share his mat expertise as a collegiate coach, passed away March 15 at Blue Ridge Hospice Residential Center in Virginia. He was 84.

    InterMat recently learned of Hartman's death from the Columbia University alumni publication, "Columbia College Today" Spring 2016 issue.

    Bob Hartman
    Robert Stephen Hartman wrestled for New York City-based Columbia, becoming the first Lion to become an All-American by placing fourth in the 137-pound bracket at the 1951 NCAA championships held at Lehigh University. The Tuckersville, Pennsylvania native took second as a junior at the Eastern Championships at 137 pounds, and placed third in the same competition as a senior. Hartman, a two-time team captain, earned 28 victories and one tie in 31 dual meets, according to a 1952 issue of the Columbia Daily Spectator. The student newspaper also quoted Columbia head wrestling coach Dick Waite as saying "Hartman does so many things well in a wrestling match."

    Prior to coming to Columbia, Hartman graduated from Wyoming Seminary in 1948. He wrestled and ran track at the prep school located Kingston, Pennsylvania in the northeast portion of the state. Hartman won the National Prep School Wrestling Championship in the 128 weight class as a senior. In addition, he met his future wife, the former Nancy Jackson.

    After graduating from Columbia, Hartman served as a freshman wrestling coach at his college alma mater for a time before serving in the United States Army from 1955-1957 in Korea. He coached the Far East Army wrestling team while there.

    From 1957-1978, Hartman was a professor of physical education and the wrestling coach at SUNY Farmingdale, a junior college of the State University of New York on Long Island, New York. He was instrumental in the creation of the first NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Wrestling National Championship in 1966. In addition to coaching individual national champions, Hartman's 1972 team went on to win the national title. Hartman was twice voted the NJCAA Wrestling Coach of the Year by his peers in 1969 and 1972. He was inducted into the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1979.

    In 1973, Hartman was selected to be the coach of the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team at the World University Games in Moscow. He was also the wrestling team leader in the junior Pan-American Games in Caracas, Venezuela in 1978, the year he retired from SUNY.

    Survivors include daughters, Judy Brown and Holly Flynn; son, Robert S. Hartman, Jr "Butch"; and 11 grandchildren. Sadly, Nancy, his wife of 61 years, passed away not long after Bob.

    Memorial contributions may be made to North Mountain Fire and Rescue, 186 Rosenberger Lane, Winchester, VA 22602 or Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601.

    Robert "Bob" Hartman is being inducted posthumously into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Melville Marriott in Melville, Long Island.
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