James Hartwell
Visionary • Innovator • Mentor
September 3, 1958 — Juli 22, 2024
35 years of building technology, developing leaders, and strengthening communities
A Life of Impact
Founded three technology companies from the ground up, guiding two through successful public offerings
Created over 4,500 jobs across the Pacific Northwest, building teams that became families
Personally mentored more than 200 young professionals, many of whom became leaders in their own right
Funded over 1,000 coding scholarships for underserved students through the Seattle Tech Education Initiative
Details zur Trauerfeier
In James's memory, contributions may be made to the Seattle Tech Education Initiative or the University of Washington Computer Science Department.
His Story
James Richard Hartwell was a leader, innovator, and mentor whose impact on the technology industry spanned four decades. Born in Seattle, Washington, James grew up fascinated by the emerging world of personal computing, building his first computer from a kit in his parents' garage at age 14.
After graduating summa cum laude from MIT with a degree in Computer Science and earning his MBA from Stanford, James began his career at IBM before co-founding his first startup in 1988. Over the next 35 years, he would build three successful technology companies, take two public, and create thousands of jobs in the Pacific Northwest.
As CEO of Hartwell Technologies, James was known not just for his strategic brilliance but for his commitment to developing the next generation of leaders. He personally mentored over 200 young professionals, many of whom went on to lead their own companies.
Great companies are built by great people. My job is to find those people and get out of their way.— James R. Hartwell
James served on the boards of several Fortune 500 companies, lectured at the University of Washington's business school, and was a founding donor of the Seattle Tech Education Initiative, which has provided coding scholarships to over 1,000 underserved students since 2015.
Beyond the boardroom, James was a devoted family man, an avid sailor who found peace on the waters of Puget Sound, and a passionate advocate for ocean conservation. He spent his final years mentoring the next generation and enjoying quiet mornings with his wife of 38 years, Margaret, and their golden retriever, Scout.
His legacy lives not in the buildings that bear his name or the companies on the stock exchange, but in the thousands of lives he touched with his generosity, wisdom, and unwavering belief that every person has greatness within them.
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I still remember the afternoon walks we shared, when the world felt simple and beautiful. You had this incredible gift for making everyone around you feel truly seen. I will carry those conversations in my heart forever.
A mentor, a friend, and one of the kindest souls I've ever known. The way you guided our team with patience and wisdom — that legacy lives on in every person you touched. Rest in peace.
Words cannot express how much you meant to our family. Every holiday, every Sunday dinner — your laughter was the melody that held us all together. We miss you more than words can say.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. A light in our parish community — always the first to volunteer, always the last to leave. I will keep them in my daily prayers.
May the angels lead them into paradise. A faithful servant and a blessing to all who knew them. Their kindness was a daily sermon more eloquent than any I could ever deliver.