A Tribute to Father Hartnett, October 12, 1926 to April 18, 2010
Today is sad day for the Marist Family as we grieve the loss of former Marist School President, Rev. James L. Hartnett, S.M., who passed away on April 18, 2010. Later this week, we will join together to celebrate the man who gave us a lifetime and will live on forever in the history of Marist School. Down a curvy drive beside Nancy Creek sitting up on stilts over an “open-air” breezeway we called “the arcade” is a place where I spent six incredible years of my life. Those years shaped who I am today, formed lifelong friendships and memories I will never forget. No matter where life takes me and how many years go by, I will always be a “War Eagle” and bleed blue and gold! While it has been over a decade since my time at Marist, it will always hold a special place in my heart. This is the Marist Experience to which Father Hartnett dedicated his life. He was always a very active part of everything. Whether it was a football game on Friday night or a theatrical performance, you could count on him making an appearance. You would always find Fr. Hartnett walking the halls, the arcade, library, or cafeteria, and conversing with students. His interactions with students were much different than those of other faculty. He was always extremely kind and compassionate and was not a disciplinarian. He embodied the definition of “leading by example”. He never led by fear but exemplified the principles taught by Christ. It was always a treat when he delivered the Homily. Rev. James L. Hartnett was ordained into the priesthood in 1955. He spent the majority of his career at the Marist School where he served in various positions including teacher, treasurer, principal, fund-raiser extraordinaire and president until his retirement in 2001 shortly after the completion of his most successful $25,000,000 capital campaign. His love, devotion, and contributions to Marist School and the Society of Mary are insurmountable. Hartnett’s vision was to educate youth in the image of Christ. He never wanted money to be a barrier to a Marist education. The Fr. Hartnett Scholarship Fund helps to sustain his vision by providing tuition assistance for those families who cannot afford a Marist Education. I remember sitting with Fr. Hartnett at the rectory one evening in the fall of 2002. He asked me if I had donated to Marist. I quickly reminded him that I had not yet even graduated from college. He in turn reminded me that he did not care about the size of the donation because every dollar counted! Looking back, it is hard not to laugh; he was always watching those dollars! This was an integral part of making sure that Marist was able to grow and continue to give the best educational experience available. I am forever thankful to you, Father, for making my Marist experience unforgettable. Robert Rogers, Class of 1998