Cuesta College Remembers Bob Hartwig

Every time you turn on the television or radio on the Central Coast, it’s highly likely a  former student of Bob Hartwig is playing a vital role in what you’re seeing and/or hearing. Thousands of students have been influenced and instructed by Hartwig, the heart and soul of Cuesta’s Broadcast Communications Program. Hartwig passed away this month from what appears to be natural causes. He was 58 years old.

Hartwig began his Cuesta career in 1976 as a Broadcast Media Instructor/Producer/Director. One year later Hartwig formed the Broadcasting Club, where he really started to have an impact as a mentor to his students, many of whom are at work in local and national media today. In 1998, Hartwig served his first of many terms as a Division Chair of Languages and Communications at Cuesta.

Hartwig was a tireless advocate for the Broadcast Communications Department, constantly striving to keep the technology current while spearheading fund-raising campaigns that netted just over $137,000 in cash and equipment. Thanks to his efforts, Cuesta’s Television Studio was remodeled in 2001/2002 with completely state-of-art, broadcast quality digital editing equipment and cameras.

According to long-time friend and colleague Randy Gold, Hartwig was well-liked by students and his peers. “The interesting thing about Bob was his wide range of interests. He was avid reader of history and loved to ride his horse in such places as the open country in Wyoming,” Gold said. “He will be missed by everyone. It’s not going to be the same without him.”

Hartwig’s passion for history carried over into his teaching. He took on the additional role of History Instructor in 1994 while continuing to take classes in technology to maintain his expertise in Broadcast Media. In addition, Hartwig published several articles on a variety of themes and textbooks related to television technology. He was just celebrating the release of his latest textbook “Basic TV Technology: Digital and Analog, 4th Edition,” which included updated information concerning the technological innovations of high definition, digital television, disc-based recording and compression technology.

Hartwig graduated from Woodland High School, located in Northern California, in 1965 and earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from California State University, Chico in 1970 and his master’s degree in radio-television from San Diego State University in 1973. He then earned a second master’s degree in history from California State University, Chico in 1992, graduating with honors.

A scholarship has been set up in Hartwig’s memory. For more information about the CCFT Robert Hartwig Memorial Broadcast Scholarship, contact the Cuesta College Foundation at 546-3279.

Hartwig is survived by his father Kurt Hartwig, brother Bill Hartwig, sister Jane Struble, nieces Stephanie Campos, Jennifer Tafoya, Lena Struble, nephew Dietrich Struble and RL his horse.