Obituary: Freeman, Hardy

FREEMAN, Hardy

Only child of David and Belle (Newberger) Freeman, Hardy Freeman died May in Spokane.

He was born in Baltimore, MD, in 1936.

His family moved to Chicago when he was six.

There he became Bar Mitzvah, and attended school includ-ing Northwestern University (BA) and the University of Chicago (MA.)

His three marriages were Gail Shupack (1957-72) with whom he had one son, then Marilyn Gartman (1986-90) until her death, and his wife Correen Morrill in 1992.
Hardy taught at Chicago area colleges and worked at the University of Chicago Development Office.

His major career, Corporate Outplacement, culminated in the opening of Hardy Freeman and Assoc.

He worked with persons whose companies supported them as they sought a new position with another organization.

Music and dance provided Hardy a lifetime of pleasure.

As a youth, he spent his summers at Circle Pines Center where he learned and led folk dancing.

For the next 50 years, he taught international folk dancing throughout the Chicago area including the University of Chicago International House.

At school, he played violin and tuba, and as an adult, banjo and guitar.

He was a charter member of The Old Town School of Folk Music.

Hardy was known for his quick wit, use of humor, and amazing memory.

This continued until the last few days of his life.
He is survived by his wife; son David (Alix Mikesell); step-children Regina Olson (Neil) and Robert Morrill (Cari); grandsons Max and Aaron Freeman; step-grandchildren Grace Johnson (Benjamin Grossman), Zachary Johnson, Gianna Reynolds (Casey), and Kanon Morrill; and great-grandson Evan Petsch.

Donations may be made to Parkinson’s Resource Center of Spokane or Rockwood Foundation.

His memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, on June 4th, in the Event Center at Rockwood South Retirement Community, 2903 E. 25th Avenue, Spokane.