Obituary
Henry Allen Hartman

Henry Allen Hartman II (Hank), 66, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at his home in Cary, NC. Hank was at the end of a difficult battle with brain cancer, a battle he fought bravely, with faith, gentleness, and a sense of humor. He will be remembered as a principled man who always tried to do what was right. Many called him "the smartest man I know," as he loved sharing his intellect at work, with family, and in causes important to him. Henry was born in Port Deposit, MD, but spent most of his childhood in Billings, MT. His was a childhood filled with ample activity and energy for everything from sports to yearbook photography to piano to academics to senior class president. Somehow, he still found plenty of time for high jinx and playing tricks on his younger sisters. College meant leaving home for California. Henry attended Stanford University, where he studied Chemical Engineering, was Treasurer of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi (more high jinx), and met the woman who would become his wife. He graduated with a B.S. in 1981. After Stanford, he studied at the Max Planck Institute in Goettingen, Germany. In 1992, Henry earned an MBA with a concentration in Finance from New York University. Henry’s career spanned decades in the computer and networking industries, with years at IBM, Extreme Networks, and Enterasys. He treated his customers as friends and always had their best interests at the core of his efforts. Despite traveling all over the world to make computer systems run more smoothly, Henry’s favorite client destinations were perhaps UNC Chapel Hill and the Panthers' Stadium in Charlotte, where he and his boys enjoyed the game and the perks of providing good service. A life-long learner, Hank was a voracious reader and consumer of information. In retirement, his curiosity and penchant for new things led him to two completely fresh careers that became close to his heart. In 2016, Henry began serving as a Tax Preparation Volunteer for the AARP Foundation and eventually the site coordinator of the Cary group, as well as an expert mentor to other volunteers. He enjoyed not just helping people from all walks of life, but also the stories he heard and the relationships he developed with his many repeat clients. His other second career was much fluffier and (hopefully) more creative than tax preparation. In 2017, Henry became the proud co-owner of Great Yarns, Raleigh, fulfilling a lifelong dream for his beloved and crafty wife Pam. Although he didn't knit or crochet, he learned a lot about yarn as he tracked inventory and accounts, fulfilled online orders, and meticulously did – as he put it – “everything.” Thinking outside the box and changing the rules were his goals, and he was always a wonderful model, encourager, snack purveyor, handyman, and self-proclaimed Pom Pom King! Cooking grew from a thoughtful husbandly gesture to another crafty retirement pursuit. While Pam taught piano lessons to the neighborhood children, Henry promised her nights out of the kitchen. He learned to be an excellent chef who enjoyed experimenting and sharing the results with family and friends. His turkey fries made holidays more special and his seafood boils extraordinaire topped off trips to the beach! Fortunately, only one fire. And guess who could fix anything? Hank and Pam's almost 39 years of marriage were highlighted, tormented, and cluttered with all of the projects he planned to complete, and usually did. And the shop staff knew that as soon as they called Mr. Hank a technical problem would immediately and magically resolve itself. Nothing was more important to Hank than his family. Whether he was coaching soccer "Fierceness Training," helping with homework, showing off in a Daddy/Daughter Dance, sneaking in at the last minute for a concert, cheering from the sidelines, counseling finances, or selecting just the right words for a Father of the Groom speech, Hank was deeply committed to his children and his wife. Most of his favorite adventures involved visiting his children in places where they were working or studying, to learn about the places and to share in the life experiences. We believe that his time on this earth with us was too short, but we are grateful for every minute. Faith was always his cornerstone. Henry loved his Heavenly Father and is resting in His arms as we read these words. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church, Cary, where he made a joyful noise as a tenor in the Chancel Choir, helped Pam teach Sunday School, and again tried to increase his knowledge with Disciple Bible Studies, occasionally discovering that he was leading the class, after all! Please think of him as you read from Psalm 61: Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.... …Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day. Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Jean Humphreys Hartman and Allen Porter Hartman. He leaves behind a loving family: wife Pamela, son Samuel of Cary, NC, daughter Grace Parce (Anthony) of Nashville, TN, son Joshua of Charlottesville, VA, and son Benjamin (Chandler) of New York, NY...all for whom he liked to tease he "made it all possible!" He will also be missed by his sisters, Amy White (Thomas) of Gig Harbor, WA and Rebecca (Michael) Newcomer of Asheville, NC, many nieces and nephews, his stepmother Connye Hartman of Billings, MT, and his pampered and treasured dog, Phoebe, who nursed him devotedly through his illness. Please also join us for a Memorial Service honoring Henry on Saturday, June 7 at 11 am in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, Cary, 117 S. Academy Street. In lieu of flowers, consider donations to: AARP Foundation foundation.aarp.org, or PO Box 93207 Long Beach CA 90809-3207 Duke Glioblastoma Foundation info@glioblastomafoundation.org, or 2451 Croasdale Farm Parkway, Suite 109 Durham, NC 27705 Working. Learning. Loving. Sharing. Fixing. Family. Faith. All were important emphases for Henry, and hopefully ways that you will remember him. We love you, Dear Hank, and will miss you to the end of our days...XOXOXO