Donald John Hartnett
May 4, 1941 - October 20, 2025
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts, the family of (Donald) John Hartnett announces his passing at the age of 84 at the North Bay Regional Health Center on Monday October 20th, 2025.
Husband to the late Joan Hartnett (nee Garbarino: May 10th, 2025), for 62 years. Loving father of Pamela of North Bay, Jamie (Kelleigh) of Peterborough and Erin of Toronto. Amazing Grandpa to Eva and Peyton, Mikayla and Teagan, Ty and Darian. John was an only child but his love of family was most important to him. He will be sadly missed by his close cousins, who were like siblings: Don Miller, Susan Medd, John Brown, Jane Mclaughlin and Laurie Turner. He will also be missed by lifetime friend Ivan Purdy. Special thank you to his friend Peter Webster who regularly visited dad to keep him up to date on what all was going on.
Dad was predeceased by his parents Helen (MacArthur) and Bill Hartnett. Dad was an amazing son to his mother Helen. After his father passed John spent a considerable time in Lindsay where she lived and he eventually brought her to live close by in Powassan in the later years of her life.
Dad grew up in Brantford Ontario where he played both competitive hockey and baseball for many years. In addition to this he was highly involved in working with kids in sports and recreational activities. John had a gift of teaching and coaching sports. These gifts were lovingly passed on to his three children all involved in athletics and coaching over the years.
Dad’s first profession was as a banker with the TD Bank that took him to several Ontario cities (Brantford, Marmora & Bracebridge ) where he met many great friends. But he found his life long passion as a professional sales rep with the Eveready Battery company in the mid 1960’s that brought him to North Bay, where he and his family have lived for 54 years. John loved his time on the road and met many lifelong friends traveling Northern Ontario and through the ACT (Associated Canadian Travellers).
Dad was a big part of hockey in North Bay managing AAA hockey teams for many years. He had a love of following his kids across Canada participating in many sports such as tennis, kayaking, volleyball and hockey.
Dad was always eager for a fun conversation with friends, had a great sense of humour and loved to chide his kids' friends when they would come over and visit. He was infamous for his fascination with lottery tickets and his desire to become a multi-millionaire, even asking his kids' friends to buy tickets in the respective university towns before they came home for holidays.
Dad we will miss your infectious smile, your generosity, wise advice, calm demeanor and your boundless love for us and our families. We know how much you missed mom and now you are back with her and grandma and grandpa. Dad, we love you and will miss you. Always in our hearts.
A very big thank you to Dr. Jinnah for her kind and compassionate care for dad. The family also wants to thank Dr. Salecko, Dr. Trenker, Dr. Ng, Community Care and the numerous PSW’s, Nurses and other practitioners that came to the house daily to care for him, we appreciate your care and support. Thank you to the wonderful nurses and health care providers on D3 at the NBRHCC for all of their care for dad the last 3 weeks. You made things easier for the family. Finally thank you Lori Pouliot who cared with compassion for dad the last 5 months. We never could have done it without you Lori. Thank you.
Visitation will take place Monday November 3rd from 3:30- 5:00pm at Hillside Funeral Services. In lieu of flowers donations are welcome to the Heart & Stroke foundation and the Crohn's and Colitis Society of Canada in his name.
