| Graduation Year | Class of 1941 |
| Date of Passing | Jan 02, 2009 |
| About | John Paul Hartmeyer, 86, passed on Jan. 2, 2009, at home with his wife Beverly Ann Hartmeyer at his side in Long Beach, Calif. due to complications resulting from a stroke suffered in 1994. John Paul Hartmeyer was the fourth of six children born to Walter Lease Hartmeyer and Mary Hartmeyer on May 27, 1922, in Zanesville. John Paul loved the life given to him. He was serious about his music composition and arranging in which he actively involved himself throughout his life. John enjoyed playing tennis and golf -he actually got a hole-in-one once! He was passionate about baseball (especially "his" Boston Red Sox) and college football. John, arguably, relished a good political discussion or argument anytime! Most of all, John unequivocally loved and was loved by his family and many, many friends now spanning several generations. At once, John was brilliant, irascible, lovable, and loyal and he possessed about the best wit and good humor. John graduated from Zanesville High School's Class of 1941. He composed the words and music for his graduating class' song entitled "Remember the Class of Forty-one." For you Internet savvy, check out: http://www.zhs41.net/bigband.htm. During World War II, John served honorably in the South Pacific Theater from Sept. 24, 1942 through Jan. 13, 1946, in both the New Guinea and Luzon campaigns. Of the number of decorations and citations he received during his service, John, being his company's cook, took a private pride in receiving a commendation bestowed on him by his commanding officer for making those bland K-rations actually very palatable -no small achievement! John attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where he graduated in 1950 with a B.M. Degree majoring in composition. He took graduate work at Florida State University and Texas Western. While attending CCM, he entered a composition called NEGEV which won the prize for best composition in 1947 or 1948. NEGEV, a Tone Poem for Brass Octet with Timpani and Percussion, is still being published and performed in many venues today. John spent nearly 20 years as a school band teacher in Nevada, Texas, Ohio, and California. From 1968 to his retirement in 1987, John worked in USC's music education department. John arranged charts for the Trojan Marching Band, notably his 40s Big-Band sound arrangements are well remembered. USC friends of John are invited to check out the following blog written by his friend Rhonda Rogers and former member of the Trojan Marching Band to read a former student's thoughts on John: http://johnhartmeyer.blogspot.com/ Aside from his wife, Beverly Ann, John leaves his daughter, Helen Marjorie Hartmeyer Dunn; and granddaughter, Susan Stanley Bell, both of Reston, Va.; his brothers, Robert Lawrence Hartmeyer of Anaheim, Calif., and William Loren Hartmeyer of Zanesville. John was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard Foreman Hartmeyer and David Leis Hartmeyer; and sister, Mary Jane Hartmeyer Barnes. There will be no formal funeral service at John's request. However, John's friends will be attending a personal celebration of his life at a Sunday brunch in February at El Cholo - his favorite Mexican restaurant located on Western Avenue in Los Angeles. |
