HANTMAN, M.D., Jerome “Jerry”
Dr. Jerome “Jerry” Hantman, 80, died at home in Columbia, Maryland, on March 28, 2022. A legendary cardiologist in Columbia and beyond, he was known as a brilliant and caring physician who regularly ignored scheduled time limits on his patients’ appointments. As a hospital administrator, he demanded the highest of ethics and medical proficiency from his colleagues and staff. The progression of Parkinson’s disease, which sadly necessitated his retirement in 2014, led to his death.
Dr. Hantman was the beloved husband of Irene (Saunders Goldstein) Hantman; devoted father to David (Jamie Brown), Joshua, and Deborah Hantman; stepfather to Eric (Erin) Goldstein; and loving grandfather of Emma Hantman, and Addison and Annemarie Goldstein. Dr. Hantman is also survived by his brother, Arnold (Sheila Feiler), and sister, Carol (Salem) Leaman; nieces, Leslie Hantman Smith, Lisa Hantman Brooks (Tsachee Zilberfarb), Rachel Leaman, and Jennifer Temchine (Chaim) Kaweblum; nephews, Aaron (Amy Katz) Leaman, Raven Coleman-Brooks, Benjamin Temchine (Mikela Seligman), and Michael Temchine (Eliza Feller); great-nephews, Cooper Smith, Ian Leaman, Asher Temchine, Jonah Temchine, and Jesse Temchine; and great-niece, Ahuva Kaweblum. An earlier marriage to the late Sue-Ellen (Wolfson Beck) Hantman ended in divorce.
Born on January 18, 1942, to Louis and Eve (Kurtzman) Hantman in Neptune, New Jersey, Dr. Hantman grew up in Freehold, New Jersey, and eventually attended Brandeis University. He played tennis for his school under then-coach Bud Collins, and many years later, when asked about his former athlete, Collins instantly replied “great left hander—wicked serve.” Despite his love for Brandeis and tennis, he left after three years to pursue a degree in medicine. He graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1966, and later earned a master of medical management degree from Carnegie-Mellon University.
After a medical residency in Boston and service as a captain in the United States Air Force, Dr. Hantman and his family moved to Columbia, Maryland.
Having founded in 1975 the medical practice now known as Cardiovascular Specialists of Central Maryland, Dr. Hantman grew his practice and also joined the staff of Howard County General Hospital. He was the hospital’s first cardiologist and, over the years, served as chairman of the Department of Medicine, chief of the Cardiology Department, director of utilization management, director of the new coronary care unit, and president of the professional staff organization, among other key positions. In addition, he directed the cardiology department at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, Maryland. He also volunteered his skills for many years at a free clinic in Howard County. The business of medicine fascinated Dr. Hantman, and he founded a primary care practice connected to his cardiology practice in order to demonstrate that a partnership between internal medicine and specialty care is essential to best-practice healthcare—decades before that connection in fact became best practice. Many Columbia-based physicians today remember Dr. Hantman as key to their success—a generous and active mentor, intent on promoting and maintaining best ethical and medical practices in Howard County.
In his earlier years Dr. Hantman was an avid tennis player, pool shark, golfer, skier, model train builder, woodworker, amateur astronomer. A life-long eclectic learner, he also enjoyed traveling and participating in Jewish community activities. In later life he developed a strong interest in Jewish genealogy. He also collected more than 1,200 doctor figurines from around the world, many of them gifts from grateful patients and good friends.
Services were held at Temple Isaiah in Fulton, MD 20759, on March 30, 2022, at 11:00 am. Interment took place at Columbia Memorial Park. Please omit flowers. The family suggests a charitable donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741; Jewish Federation of Howard County, 10630 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 400, Columbia, MD 21044; or Howard Hospital Foundation, 5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044. On Thursday, March 31, shiva will take place at Temple Isaiah, 12200 Scaggsville Road, Fulton, MD from 6-8pm, with a service at 7pm. Shiva will continue on Sunday with a Zoom shiva service through Beth Shalom Congregation. That link - as well as a memorial book for condolence messages - can be found on Levinson’s website. Arrangements by Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc.
www.sollevinson.com