Obituary: Harry Shartar, 92

Harry Shartar, known to many simply as “Papa,” one of the greatest of the Greatest Generation, passed away peacefully Friday, March 4, 2016. He was 92 years old.

Harry was born in Atlanta on April 11, 1923, to Saul Loeb and Fanny Maziar Shartar. He was a devoted son and brother to Ruth, Edythe and Buddy. He graduated from Boys’ High School and Georgia Tech, Class of 1949. His college career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India theater. After college, he joined Atlanta Paper Co., which became part of Mead Corp., where he remained as an executive for his entire career of more than 40 years. His work took him to Massachusetts and Europe.

Harry personified integrity and taught those who knew him what it meant to be a good person. He was best friend and confidant to many. He had a towering intellect and a keen wit, would have given Ken Jennings a run for his money on “Jeopardy!” and was a Scrabble champion, pun master, trivia king and crossword puzzle wizard. He loved music, especially the music of the big band era and the Beatles, and even in his final days could “name that tune” in less than three seconds. He loved to travel and was especially proud of visiting every continent. With his English and broken Yiddish, he could communicate with any person in the world and always elicit a smile.

Harry was preceded in death by the love of his life, Sarah Hirsch Shartar, whom he married in 1948. Harry is survived by his children, Thyle (Marty) Shartar-Fox of Wiscasset, Maine, Neal (Sheryl) Shartar of Sanbornton, N.H., and Edward (Teresa) Shartar of Atlanta; his sister, Ruth; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Gladys Hirsch, Herb Spiegel, and Ben and Jacquie Hirsch. As Papa, he was adored by his nine grandchildren, Amy (Jeff), Anna, Esther (Nate), Elin (Brook), Jon (Kim), Joshua of blessed memory, Jeremy (Ana), Ben and Nathan, and eight great-grandchildren, Ruth, Leah, Asa, Georgia, Solomon, Salinger, Hadley and Rory. To know Papa was to love him. He will be missed by the many lives he touched. Knowing him was an honor, a privilege and a blessing.

Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Graveside funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Melvin Sirner of Congregation Shearith Israel officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmssociety.org. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta, 770-451-4999.