Robert F. “Bob” Hartman, The Voice of TV 34”, passed away peacefully, at home on February 20th, with his loving wife of 52 years by his side after a long illness at the age of 71.

Bob was born on March 1, 1949 in New Jersey at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital. He lived in North Bergen with his parents until they moved to the Robertsville section of Marlboro, NJ in 1957. He attended school in the one-room Robertsville schoolhouse, and Marlboro Central School when it was first built and played on the championship basketball team there. He attended Freehold Boro High School and graduated in 1967. It was there that he first met Mary Lou, his future wife, riding home on activity school bus. They were married on November 14, 1968 in his sophomore year at Belmont Abbey College. Bob is a US Air Force veteran. After 10 years of selling insurance, he decided to try his hand at broadcasting. He attended Brookdale Community College and took courses to make a career change. He was a reporter for WADB Radio in South Belmar; former News Director/Anchor/Sports Reporter/Sports Play-by-Play Announcer at Monmouth Cablevision: TV 34 News; former on Camera Talent & Producer for Discover NJ at New Jersey Network and former Sports Announcer for Comcast Sports TV.

During those years, he interviewed many sports figures, including Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Jack Nicholas, Nancy Lopez, Arnold Palmer, Jan Stephenson, Chris Everett Lloyd, Martina Navratilova, Johnny Miller and Phil Rizzuto; several Miss Americas, including Vanessa Williams, and many celebrities such as Willie Nelson, Liberace, Bob Hope, Tom Dreesen, Luciano Pavarotti, Boy George, Perry Como and many others. He also interviewed, NJ Governors, Mayors, Senators, Congressmen, Police Chiefs, Prosecutors, Freeholders and many coaches.

When Monmouth College Men’s Basketball went into Division One, he broadcasted their first game in Boylan Gym. Bob also traveled to three NCAA tournaments with the Monmouth Hawks to capture behind the scenes video for the team. Bob & his family have always been Hawks fans, attending games well beyond his retirement as season ticket holders.

Bob has received numerous broadcasting awards during his career from the North Jersey Press Club; 1990 Award from the Monmouth County Missing Persons Task Force; Certificate of Appreciation from the Manasquan Elks National Service Commission; 2002 Award of Excellence from the New Jersey Education Association and 2002 New Jersey Senate and General Assembly Honor.

Bob also took part in the Marlboro Community, when his two children were growing up, he coached Pop Warner and Marlboro Recreation basketball. He loved the kids, always gave them a chance to excel and has kept in touch with many of them on Facebook. Bob also served on the First Marlboro Swim Club Committee.

When his two children finished high school, Bob & Mary Lou moved to Brielle, closer to their jobs and spent wonderful years living near the shore. In 2005 they moved back to Marlboro planning for retirement.

He was a lifelong NY Giants fan and loved going to his granddaughters’ softball and volleyball games.

Bob is predeceased by his parents, Herman G. & Eleonora M. (Homberg) Hartman, grandson, Robert J. Hartman, brother-in-law, Ismael Rodriguez, and four first cousins.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Lou; son, Robert E. Hartman and wife Maureen, Little River, SC; daughter, Gretchen M Shaffer and husband Christopher D., Broadway, NC; granddog, Dayton; granddaughters Alexandra T. Hartman and Jessica N. Hartman; sister Carol M. Rodriguez, Martinez, GA; and nephews, Marc H. Rodriguez and wife, Waiyee, Gregory Rodriguez and fiancé Jessica Smith. He is also survived by many cousins and dear friends.

The family would like to thank Kindred Hospice for their excellent care and support.

Visitation Sunday, February 28 from 1-4pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Road, Holmdel. Mass of Christian Burial 11am on Monday, March 1 at St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church 100 N. Main Street, Marlboro followed by entombment at St. Gabriel’s Mausoleum, 549 County Road 520, Marlboro.

In lieu of traditional remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to the Fulfill Food Bank; www.fulfillnj.org.

For the health and safety of all guests, current state and local health protocols of social distancing and the wearing of face masks are being strictly enforced at both events.

To share a favorite memory or send messages of condolence, please visit Bob’s memorial tribute page at https://wbhfh.com/obituary/robert-f-hartman/.