Hartnett, Richard G. Jr.
Richard G. Hartnett, Jr., of Lake Lenape, Andover Township, NJ, passed into eternal life on July 9, 2017, following a long illness. Rich was predeceased by his beloved wife, Kathleen, née Sullivan.
Born and raised in Rahway, NJ, Richard graduated from Saint Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City in 1960. Following graduation, he entered the Society of Jesus, and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1972. Richard served the Jesuit order in both North and South America. He taught at Xavier High School in Manhattan and later became its administrator, serving the same position at Collegio San Ignatio in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and at Jesuit schools in Bolivia where he became fluent in Spanish. Richard earned advanced degrees in Mathematics and Theology from Fordham University in New York.
He has served as the chaplain at Hazelden New York, pastoral counselor at the Chemical Dependency Department of the International Center for the Disabled in NYC, and continuing care counselor at High Focus Centers in New Jersey.
While serving at Xavier, Richard contracted lymphoma that was treated and went into remission. He was a cancer survivor of many years. Through this treatment experience, Richard met his future wife, Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, also a cancer survivor, and they fell in love. He was granted an honorable separation from the priesthood to marry Kathleen. They enjoyed many years together, first in Manhattan, and then at Lake Lenape, prior to Kathy’s passing in April of last year.
Continuing his career of service to others, Richard became a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor. Through this work, he helped countless others in their struggles with addiction. He was the author of numerous inspirational and self-help articles and publications for Hazelden Publishing, and Serenity Publications. His book titles include: “Sobriety and Inspiration: Entrusting Ourselves to the Source of Our Healing and Creativity”, and “The Three Inner Voices: Uncovering the Spiritual Roots of Addiction and Recovery”.
Richard’s avocations included landscape photography, and gardening. He and Kathleen loved attending Broadway plays with the rest of the family. They also hosted an annual New Year’s Day party. Rich and Kathy shared their home with their cherished feline pets, Honey and Pumpkin, whom they adopted from Father John’s Animal House in Lafayette, NJ.
Richard was the son of Richard G. Hartnett and Clare Kaiser Hartnett. He is survived by his sister Mary Lou and husband Charles Sweetman, brothers Peter and wife Peggy, Joseph and wife Georgia, Michael and partner Daniel, and sister Anne Marie and husband Justin Tupik, nieces Lisa Sweetman DeFouw and Barbara Mintel (husband Thomas), nephews Phelan Tupik and Colin Hartnett (wife Lauren), many grand nephews and nieces and cousins, and by his caretaker, Kim Sofen.
Visitation will be held Thursday, July 13, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home 156 Main St. (Rt. 206) Newton. There will be a celebration of life and a Mass Friday July 14, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Saint Mary’s Divine Mercy R.C. Church in Rahway, NJ, immediately followed by interment at Saint Gertrude’s Mausoleum, 53 Inman Avenue, Colonia, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Richard’s memory to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, or Father John’s Animal House.
