David Miles Hartley

1939 - 2022

David Miles Hartley
January 13, 1939 - July 12, 2022
David Miles Hartley passed away peacefully in the company of his family on July 12, 2022. He was born in Los Angeles on January 13, 1939 and grew up in Pasadena where he attended the Polytechnic School and Pasadena High School.
He earned a bachelor's degree at Wooster College in Ohio in 1961 and attended Stanford Law School before taking a job at at Sunset Magazine. He worked there for 25 years, first as the Building Editor and then as Travel Editor. He moved on to do fundraising for San Mateo Hospital. He then joined the staff at San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) as Development Director in 1990 where he was able to combine his interest in civic and urban issues with his fundraising experience.
David was appointed to the San Francisco Landmarks Board by Mayor Dianne Feinstein in 1981. He served on the boards of the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley, the San Francisco Heritage Board and, after he retired, at SPUR. Always interested in public policy, he volunteered to serve on the San Francisco Grand Jury, which studied and reported on the San Francisco Public Schools Choice Program.
David had a deep interest in people of all ages. He was a wonderful conversationalist, intent listener and had a great sense of humor. He loved to travel, and he and his wife, Jane, travelled extensively, both for Sunset and on their own to places well-known and unusual. He was an avid hiker at Echo Lake and he and his wife navigated the mountains of Ethiopia, the Inca Trail and the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. He was an excellent photographer who enjoyed taking pictures –– for Sunset, on his travels, and for his family. He loved music and dancing and relished his experiences at the opera. He was interested in sports, played tennis, and was an avid fan of the San Francisco Giants.
He was devoted to his extended family and was very close to his brother Malcolm and his family. He also kept close ties with all seven of his cousins. He was enormously proud of Jane, his wife of 54 years, of his children, Samantha and Will, and his grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son in 2021. He leaves behind his wife; daughter Samantha Hartley; daughter-in-law, Mary Pellerito; three granddaughters, Catherine Hewitt, and Grace and Gabriella Hartley; his sister-in-law Maia Speer and his niece, Rose Hartley.
A private service will be held. For those who would like to make a contribution in David's memory, the family suggests SPUR at 654 Mission Street, SF 94105, or the San Francisco Heritage Foundation at 2007 Franklin Street, SF 94109.