Weston Hartman, age 36, passed away on July 27, 2023, in San Francisco, California, peacefully and painlessly, in his sleep, due to a brain aneurysm. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend.
We are lost and broken with a hole left in our hearts. Weston was the most caring and selfless man we ever knew. Like a beacon, he was the light of our family, and the center we all revolved around. He had a way of drawing us together by sharing his time and experiences. He was an inspiration and we are so proud of him and his accomplishments. He motivated every one of us to achieve triumphs that would not have happened without his persistent push. It is so hard to lose a brother and even harder to lose a son. Every moment we shared together will be memorialized and held close forever. Weston did so much for every single one of us and we will forever love him for it. He had the purest heart, intentions and was so deeply loyal. He was a once in a lifetime friend. If you needed a laugh, cry or just be silly he was ready for it. He made all of his people feel so safe and supported always and his memory will be celebrated every day.
Weston had a zest for life, and a deep passion for all things cars, motorsports, new technologies, and coffee. He enjoyed traveling with his mother, capturing moments through his photography, and embarking on hiking adventures with his friends and beloved dog, Duke. He was an amazing host and loved visits from family and friends. He would take you on a tour through Silicon Valley, and a ride-along in a self-driving car. He would take you to the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Big Sur, and Ghirardellis for chocolate and ice cream. Weston found joy in sharing experiences with loved ones and the memories will never be forgotten. He loved sharing his knowledge of new technology and updating our lives. He was always trying to keep his family and friends "trendy." Weston was still working on converting his brother to Apple, and his dad to a smartphone. His infectious sense of humor brought joy to all those around him, and he embraced his true self, always staying true to who he was. His caring nature and willingness to go above and beyond for his loved ones will be deeply missed.
Weston was born on February 18, 1987, and grew up on a hobby farm in
Jim Falls, Wisconsin. He loved playing outdoors with his goat, Cally, and his dog, Zeus. He liked riding three wheeler, building forts, and running through the woods with his brother and sister. Weston was fond of his childhood, but he had a drive to explore the world. After graduating from Chippewa Falls High School in 2005, he joined the United States Navy. He served on active duty from 2006, to 2008, as a Jet Aircraft Turbofan Engine Mechanic. He was deployed overseas for Operation Enduring Freedom aboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. Weston continued his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 2008, to 2011, as a Turboshaft Engine Mechanic for Sea Hawk helicopters. During his Navy Reserve service in
Virginia Beach, Virginia, he also worked as a Department of Defense Contractor for the U.S. Navy, and a Brand Specialist for Jaguar, Porsche, and Audi at Checkered Auto Group.
Weston knew his passion for cars was going to be his forever career. In 2012, he started attending the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He excelled academically and led the University of Wisconsin Hybrid Vehicle Team as Team Leader and President. He completed an internship with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Michigan, and was Head of Advertising with the Wisconsin Engineer Magazine. Weston developed some incredible friendships in Madison that elevated him and lasted a lifetime. He graduated with his Mechanical Engineer degree in 2015, and set his sights on California. He accepted a continuous improvement engineer role with PCC Structurals, and they moved him to
San Leandro, California to join their aerospace, energy, and commercial applications team.
In 2018, Weston's expertise in engineering led him to Aurora, in San Francisco. He started as an Autonomous Vehicle Operations Specialist, building systems for self-driving cars, and calibrating lidar, radar, and cameras. He was an Aurora ambassador who loved to engage with curious minds about self-driving cars. He was promoted to Vehicle Integration Mechanical Design Engineer in 2020. Weston designed and retrofitted autonomous driving systems on self-driving semi-trucks. He loved his job, and played a major role in Aurora's success developing autonomous driving trucks. He was busy traveling back and forth from Aurora's San Francisco and Pittsburgh offices, but he always found time to come back home and make lasting memories with his family. Weston was taken from us too soon. The heartache and sting will never leave, but we know he lived his life to the fullest and impacted so many lives everyday.
Weston will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by his mother, Janet Beaudette; father, David Hartman; sister, Diana Hartman (James Testor); brother, Wade Hartman (Morgan Moseley); niece, Delana Hartman; nephew, Ethan Testor; niece, Shyann Testor, and niece, Madeline Testor, along with other family members and many friends.
A Celebration of Weston's Life will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Chippewa Valley Cremation Services – Celebration of Life Center located at 1717 Devney Drive,
Altoona, WI. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. A Memorial service & time of sharing memories will begin at 1:30 p.m. Military Honors rendered by the U.S. Navy and American Legion Post #53 will be rendered at the time of service.
Chippewa Valley Cremation Services – Celebration of Life Center in Altoona is assisting Weston's family with arrangements.
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