David Hartman, 98, died at home of complications from injuries sustained in a fall. He was a lawyer, businessman, entrepreneur, gamesman, singer, performer, lover of music, cinema, and literature, and unparalleled raconteur, born in Brooklyn New York to Louis and Marie Hartman. An adept student, he completed high school at 16 and graduated from the City College of New York.

He enlisted in the US Army in 1942 and saw combat in Europe. He served a total of 26 months overseas, was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star and received an Honorable Discharge in 1945.

After his military service he lived in New York, where he held a variety of jobs while pursuing his true passions of billiards, table tennis (of which he was a national caliber player), and poker. He led a colorful life in the company of a raffish group of actors, gamblers, and pool hustlers, and eventually enrolled in Brooklyn Law School. He graduated in 1949 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1950. He practiced law and served for a time as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the State of New York. The remainder of his career was spent in publishing, advertising, and entrepreneurship.

In 1951 he married Phyllis Bierbryer, and they remained married until her death in 2005. They had three children, Alison, Roger (Shosannah), and Rick (Lee).

In 2008 David married Sunshine Lutey, and together they led the Sunshine Performance Group, based in Laguna Woods, CA. The group mounted dozens of musicales and variety shows over the years, all to benefit charity. A gifted singer, David also served as MC for most of these shows. He continued playing golf and billiards into his 90s (winning multiple medals in the National Senior Olympics) and was playing poker three times a week up until the week before his death.

In addition to his wife and children, David is survived by grandchildren Katherine
Lauricella and Jordan and Daisy Hartman; a nephew, Robert Kaplan; step-grandchildren Nicolas
and Mia Bacura; several great-nephews and nieces; as well as Sunshine's children, Denise Conner (Ken) and Darrell Lutey (Nicole), step-granddaughter, Misty Hayes (Lance), and step-great-granddaughters, Lorelai and Saoirse Hayes.

Interment at Riverside National Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Foundation of Laguna Woods Village.