James Hartle, active in Ridgefield

James R. “Jim” Hartle of Osprey, Fla., a former Ridgefielder who’d been active in school, church and in youth programs here, died Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004, in Sarasota, Fla. He was 62 years old and the husband of Ellie Hartle.
Mr. Hartle was born in Canton, Ohio, on June 11, 1942. He attended Penn State University and was employed by IBM for over 37 years, during which time he and his family relocated up and down the East Coast a total of 11 times. He and his family lived in Ridgefield from 1977 to 1984 and again from 1990 to 1996.
Throughout his career in Human Resources with IBM, he was well known for being a man of high integrity, who made sure that all employees were treated fairly and with dignity, his family said. “He was especially proud of the work he did with the IBM Diversity Counsel Group. He was considered a mentor by many.”
In his many moves with IBM, Mr. Hartle always became active in his communities. In Ridgefield, he was chairman of the church council, served on the Board of Trustees and was a deacon at the First Congregational Church. He also coached Little League and girls softball teams here.
He and his wife led the youth group at The First Congregational Church, were co-presidents of the Veterans Park School and Ridgefield High School PTAs, and ran art auctions and other fund-raisers to benefit the schools.
Besides his wife of 40 years, Mr. Hartle is survived by a daughter, Beth Jacobsohn of Virginia; a son, Lewis Hartle of Colorado; three grandchildren, Lewis James Hartle, Alex Jacobsohn, and Morgan Jacobsohn; a sister, Joan Finkelstein of New York; a brother, Jerome Hartle of Pennsylvania; and a stepmother, Netta Ross of Sarasota.
Donations can be made in his name to Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC), 2139 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34237.