Kermit Hartley

February 24, 1933 - January 29, 2018 Burbank, CA

Kermit passed away from recurrent pneumonia resulting from lung cancer surgery several years prior. He was 84 years old. He was the youngest of four children born to Ruth and William Hartley of Billings, Montana.

Education played an important role in Kermit’s life. After graduating from Eastern Montana College of Education in Billings in 1958, Kermit began his teaching profession in California as an elementary school teacher in Santa Maria. After marrying Barbara Huntley, they moved to San Jose to continue their careers and start a family. Kermit received a Master’s Degree in Education from San Jose State University and worked for the San Jose Unified School District for three decades as teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator.

In 1996, Kermit retired and moved to Los Angeles, California. He eventually married his long-time partner Edward Costanzo in 2012. In Los Angeles, he volunteered at the Department of Consumer Affairs, enjoyed traveling to new places as well as visiting family in Northern California and Denver.

Kermit moved to Belmont Village Senior Living in Burbank in 2016 where he quickly got involved in many activities and made many friends. He had a love for reading, which inspired him to help launch a book club for the residents.

Kermit is survived by his three children, Kim Watkins, Julie Hartley, and Mark Hartley, granddaughter Isabelle Watkins, nieces Gaye Aaberg and Darcie Johnson, and nephews Scott and John Humphreys.