Mason Nutter Hartman
July 23, 1925 – June 15, 2007
Mason Nutter Hartman was a true friend, a scholar and a gentleman. He was pillar of the United Methodist Church and Boston University. He died at home, at the age of 81 after a brief illness.
Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Mr. Hartman was a long-time member of the Boston Wesleyan Association, the publisher of Zion’s Herald, a journal of religious opinion, following in the footsteps of his father (Lewis O. Hartman) who had been editor of the journal before his election as a bishop of the Methodist Church. He was a delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Mr. Hartman served as president of the Friends of the Libraries of Boston University and later served on its Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Visitors of the School of Theology. When he lived in Brookline in the 1960s, he was a trustee of St. Mark’s Methodist Church.
A veteran of World War II, he served in the 30th Division of the Army 119th Infantry in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. His heroics during the Battle for Aachen (Germany), earned him the Bronze Star. Later, he participated in the Battle of the Bulge, one of the largest and deadliest battles of World War II. In December 2001, Mr. Hartman was honored by the French Government for his contribution to the liberation of France, aboard the French aircraft carrier Jeanne d’Arc docked for this occasion in Boston harbor, and also received the Jubilee of Liberty Medal, established by the French government to honor the veterans of the Normandy invasion of June 6, 1941.
After the War, Mr. Hartman returned to Boston in 1945 where he earned a degree in Physics at Boston University (class of 49) to fulfill his dream of becoming a theoretical physicist. Instead, he joined the family business, Vita Needle Company, in Needham, MA where he eventually became president and chairman. However, his interests in physics, mathematics, sciences, literature, arts and nature continued through prolific reading, travel and intellectual discussion.
In 1951 he married Nancy Marsh, daughter of Boston University President Daniel L. Marsh. Initially living in Brookline, he later moved his family to Needham. A lover of music, he sang in the choir at Carter Memorial Methodist Church in Needham for more than twenty years. He was married for 56 years.
He is survived by his wife Nancy Marsh Hartman of Needham, his son Frederick Mason Hartman and his wife Kathy of Wellesley his daughter Robin Hartman Mosgrove and her husband Peter of Needham, a brother Richard O. Hartman of Dunedin FL and his 7 grandchildren Frederick M. Hartman II, Ashley Hartman, and Krysten Hartman and Cameron Mosgrove, Cerie Mosgrove, Colin Mosgrove, and Cody Mosgrove.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday June 19 at 10 AM in the Carter Memorial United Methodist Church, 800 Highland Ave Needham. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Friends of the Libraries at BU, Special Collection, ATTN: Treasurer/Secretary
771 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02215.
Arrangements by Eaton Funeral Home Needham.