Whole District’s Behind Him

The second-graders at Trabuco Mesa Elementary School recently received a sad lesson in the uncertainties of life: Even a seemingly all-powerful grown-up like their superintendent can fall seriously ill.

Just two days after visiting to read stories to the Rancho Santa Margarita second-graders, Peter A. Hartman was fighting for his life after undergoing emergency surgery to remove a kidney. Hartman, 63, the much-honored superintendent of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, remains hospitalized and in critical condition a month after the procedure.

The children have been putting together a book of handcrafted get-well letters and photographs for Hartman.

“The class even included a dozen of [Hartman’s] favorite chocolate chip cookies,” said Chuck Prince, principal at Trabuco Mesa Elementary. “We’re all thinking about him. He’s a survivor.”

Hartman, who shaped the district in his nearly two decades as superintendent, in November shared honors with a colleague as California Superintendent of the Year. With 35,000 students, Saddleback is the fourth-largest school district in the county and the 18th-largest in California.

Now his district is rallying to support him with blood drives and home-cooked meals delivered to his family. The superintendent’s office has been overwhelmed with calls and get-well cards from parents and teachers.

“Every card and letter I’ve taken over to the hospital myself,” said Saddleback Assistant Supt. William Manahan. “There are huge packets of these letters, hundreds of them, and every card and every letter has been read out loud to him.”

Since the operation Dec. 22, Hartman has remained in critical but stable condition at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, according to hospital spokeswoman Karen Prestia.

“My friend and colleague Peter Hartman is one of the top superintendents in California, if not the nation,” said James A. Fleming, superintendent of the neighboring Capistrano Unified School District, who received the state Superintendent of the Year award along with Hartman. “We are all praying for his recovery and a life that returns to normalcy.”

The day Hartman was rushed into surgery, his mother, Mildred, died in Florida at age 83. On the same day, Hartman’s wife, Sunny, went into Mission Hospital for a scheduled knee-replacement surgery.

Before taking over at Saddleback, Hartman was superintendent in Imperial Beach and Hamilton Square, N.J. He started his career as an elementary and secondary school teacher in La Habra in 1961.

The Hartmans have four grown children, three of whom live in Orange County. Last summer, Sunny Hartman retired from teaching after 25 years in the classroom.

“I personally have been able to see what a sense of support and positive feelings all the support has made on Sunny and all the children,” Manahan said. “It means a lot to them.”

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Pat Closs, executive assistant to Hartman, is recruiting friends, associates and volunteers from other schools to take turns preparing meals for the Hartman family.

“This district has always operated as a big family,” Closs said. “I have meals scheduled through Sunday.”

Another way concerned community and staff members in the district have been showing support for their beloved superintendent is by donating blood in Hartman’s name through the American Red Cross. Blood drives have been held at El Toro High School in Lake Forest and Silverado Continuation School in Mission Viejo.

“I called as soon as I could to get an appointment,” said Susan Byrne, board secretary for Saddleback, who gave blood at the Silverado drive Wednesday. “I’ve worked with Dr. Hartman for six years. He’s really special to me. I was so glad for the opportunity to show my support.”