Popular broadcast journalism teacher dies 

Bob Hartwig, longtime language and communications instructor at Cuesta College, died over the weekend of natural causes. He was 58 years old.

Hartwig joined Cuesta in 1976 as a broadcast media instructor coming from Cal State Chico with a degree in mass communications and later San Diego State with a degree in radio and television.

According to longtime friend and colleague Randy Gold, Hartwig was well liked by students and his peers.

'The interesting thing about Bob was his wide range of interests. He was an avid reader of history and loved to ride his horse in such places as the open country in Wyoming," Gold said. 'He will be missed by everyone. It's not going to be the same without him."

Mary McCorkle, head of Cuesta's journalism department and the Cuestonian college newspaper, said, 'Bob was a great guy, just a great guy; just a warm person and a good leader for our division and a friend, and all of us feel very sad. It was a real shock."

Hartwig worked hard and raised a lot of money for the Broadcast Communications Department. Recently Cuesta's Television Studio was remodeled in 2001-02 with completely state-of-the-art, broadcast-quality digital editing equipment and cameras.

Hartwig's biggest impact was on his students, many of who went on to successful careers. More than a few currently work on the Central Coast.

'We shares many of same students," McCorkle told New Times. 'Bob was a father figure to many of his students. They knew he cared about them and believed in them and he believed they could succeed and be successful. The students believed in him."

According to a Cuesta press release, Hartwig had just finished a textbook called 'Basic TV Technology: Digital and Analog, 4th Edition," which included updated information concerning the technological innovations of the industry.

Cuesta's on-campus radio station, KGUR, will be broadcasting a tribute show for Hartwig during finals week. From approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 12 through 16, the station will air recorded sound clips from students, colleagues, and friends talking about their favorite memories of Hartwig. The station broadcasts through Charter Cable at 89.5 FM and on-air at Cuesta's San Luis Obispo Campus on 105.3 FM.

Hartwig is survived by his father; his brother, Bill; and his sister, Jane. A memorial service for Hartwig has been scheduled between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., this Saturday, Dec. 10, in Cuesta College San Luis Obispo Campus Room 5401.

-King Harris