Clifton R. Hartman

Clifton R. Hartman, 97, of Chester and formerly of Cheshire passed away in the company of his family on Saturday, May 27, 2017.

He was born on May 21, 1920 in Bethlehem, PA to Chester and Dorothy Bowman Hartman. After graduating from high school in Dunellen, NJ, Clif attended Lehigh University, Rutgers University and Columbia University where he studied organic chemistry and chemical engineering. His landlady introduced him to a new tenant, a lovely young teacher named Mary Shuey. They dated and were married on June 1, 1942. A few weeks later, Clif was recruited into the US Army Air Force as an ammunitions specialist. He served his country proudly in the bomb disposal unit disarming explosive devices for three years throughout the European and northern African theatres. At the conclusion of WW II in 1945, Clif was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant after having received a Bronze Star and numerous other service recognitions. Following the war, Clif was employed as a chemist by the Calco Chemical Company, later to be renamed American Cyanamid, from which he retired in 1985. Clif and Mary were married for 66 years until her passing. They enjoyed traveling in this country with their family and around the world following their retirement. Clif was a very proud American, a master chess player, a tinkerer and a gardener. He loved his home in the center of Cheshire, and he taught chess to hundreds of elementary children in after school clubs. He was a decades long member of the First Congregational Church in Cheshire and the Cheshire Army Air Force Round Table. Most especially he loved his family.

Clif is survived by his son Keith (Jo Ann) Hartman and his daughter Dale Bernardoni. He was predeceased by his daughter Carol Jay (Bob) Hartman-Berrier. Grandchildren include Caitlin (Fred) Von Graf, Beth (Mark) Skubis, Megan (Josh) Buergel, Erik (Mina) Hartman, Elise Bernardoni, Rebecca (Mike) Dadonna, Ryan (Caroline) Bernardoni and Jeffrey (Kate) Bernardoni as well as 7 great-grandchildren. Also, he leaves behind sister-in-law Roberta Hartman, daughter-in-law Kathy Hartman, neighbors Dick and Katie Pfeiffer, caregiver Fidelis Nambigne and numerous other caring relatives and friends.

A memorial service in celebration of Clifton’s life will take place on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 1:00 at the First Congregational Church in Cheshire. This will be followed by a military burial at Hillside Cemetery and a reception in the First Congregational Church auditorium. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire has been entrusted with his arrangements In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to the Army Air Force Roundtable of CT, c/o Nancy Bracket, Treasurer, 14 Farmwood Dr., Prospect, CT 06712 or the House of Heroes CT, 3000 Whitney Ave., Suite 233, Hamden, CT 06518.