Roland F. Hartman Jr., known as Skip to family and friends, passed away on February 11, 2026 peacefully surrounded by family. He was 92. Skip was smart, thoughtful and generous, and had a great sense of humor. He was very much loved by his family and friends. Skip was born on March 22, 1933 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. As an ‘Army Brat’, he attended nine schools in nine years before transitioning to St. Andrew’s in Delaware for his last three years of high school. He subsequently graduated from Stanford University in 1955 and New York University in 1959. He married Phoebe Meyer in 1958 in New York City.
Skip served as a Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps from 1955 to 1958 in Munich, Germany, where he first met Phoebe. After being discharged from active duty, he was hired by First National City Bank while still working on his MBA. He later joined Conoco and initially worked on international petroleum projects. Over the course of his 30+ year career with Conoco and then DuPont after the 1981 merger, Skip held a number of management and executive positions, mainly in finance, pension investments and investor relations. Being Managing Director of Conch Methane Services in London was one of the highlights of his career.
One of the great benefits of Skip’s work was that it allowed his family numerous travel experiences – especially when they lived in England. They enjoyed traveling as a family and learned a great deal through being exposed to different cultures. They also had frequent contact with Phoebe’s relatives in Britain and Germany. Skip was a member of a number of professional organizations including the New York Society of Security Analysts, Certified Financial Analysts, Pension Group East and was a past president of Petroleum Investor Relations Association. He was a member of the Winterthur Museum Finance Committee and the Investment Committee of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, serving on each for over 10 years.
Devoted to his family, Skip also had a keen interest in photography, travel and gardening. After his retirement, he and Phoebe continued to explore foreign lands. Skip continued traveling into his 80s, including visiting family twice in Botswana.
His family includes his beloved late wife of 60 years, Phoebe, sister Kathy, niece Lindsey, two sons and six grandchildren: son Peter and his wife Judith and their children Asa, Helene and Andrew and his son Timothy and his wife Trisha and their children Tara, Azat and Leif.
A service will be held at McCrery & Harra, 3924 Concord Pike in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday February 21, with visitation commencing at 10 am and a service at 11 am. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, Skip would appreciate a contribution in his memory to Stanford University or to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in Santa Monica, CA. To send a message of condolence visit www.mccreryandharra.com
