Remembering Ray Hartmann | St. Louis Magazine

St. Louis has lost a truly unique voice. Ray Hartmann passed away on Thursday at the age of 73 in a heartbreaking car accident. A staunch supporter of journalism and the First Amendment, Ray had an unwavering belief in community, the significance of the press, and the importance of human rights.

Raised on the “mean streets” of West County, a phrase he often used humorously, Ray attended Parkway Central, where he was later inducted into the Hall of Fame. This honor, along with numerous media accolades, was something he cherished deeply. While studying at Mizzou, he held the position of editor-in-chief of The Maneater—making him the only student in the publication’s rich history to do so twice—showing remarkable determination in challenging the establishment. After graduating, he took on the role of speechwriter for Republican Christopher “Kit” Bond, often using this experience to illustrate his ability to engage across political lines.

In 1977, Ray founded the Riverfront Times, which quickly established a reputation for challenging the status quo and fearlessly advocating for the marginalized. Over the years, it became a training ground for many of the city’s most talented journalists. As Jeannette Cooperman, who collaborated with Ray for many years at the RFT and later at St. Louis Magazine, noted, “I was grateful to work for someone who, when one of our stories risked losing us significant advertising clients, said, ‘Go for it.’”

Ray was passionate, sincere, and steadfast in his beliefs. This dedication shone through in the columns and articles published in the RFT. He also attracted a broader audience when he co-founded Donnybrook on Nine PBS in 1987. As the original provocateur, Martin Duggan, Ray’s mentor, later recalled about the pilot episode, “It was a fortuitous news week. The Post-Dispatch was running a series on ‘The Schoemehl Money Machine,’ and a sensational murder had taken place. So, we were completely unrehearsed, unscripted, and uninformed, and these were my opening words: ‘Ray Hartmann! A young Crestwood woman was found bound and gagged and burned to death…and they met through a so-called eligible ad in your newspaper!’ For the first and only time, Ray threw up his hands.”

Ray ultimately sold the RFT to Phoenix-based New Times in 1998. Around that same time, he and one of his original Donnybrook colleagues, Mark Vittert, who later founded the St. Louis Business Journal, revived the defunct St. Louis Magazine. After its debut in spring 1995, featuring a rising star named Sheryl Crow on the cover, the magazine transitioned from quarterly to bimonthly, and eventually to monthly publication in 1997. Cooperman later became editor before transitioning to staff writer, covering a range of subjects from murderers to lobbyists and priests. While SLM often celebrated the city’s best aspects, it also pushed St. Louis to strive for improvement—a mission that continues to resonate today.

Ray also sought to enhance the community in other ways. He held the position of president of the ACLU of Eastern Missouri and was a fervent supporter of Paraquad and the Starkloff Disability Institute. His byline eventually graced SLM’s “Think Again” column. He never shied away from contentious discussions, whether regarding Coldwater Creek, zoo funding, or the sports industry. While many in St. Louis appeared to be in denial, Ray consistently wrote columns predicting the Rams would leave town, almost as if he had a premonition even before Stan Kroenke. Whether working on a story—be it written or on the air—he meticulously considered all angles, employing traditional reporting methods and collaborating with colleagues.

After selling SLM in 2018, he returned to the RFT as a freelance columnist. He then announced his retirement from journalism in 2024, leaving behind his cherished spot on Donnybrook to run for Congress against the long-standing incumbent U.S. Rep. Anne Wagner. As always, he approached this transition with a blend of seriousness and humor.

“I really don’t see politics as any darker than journalism,” he told Don Corrigan. “I think both journalists and politicians are often viewed as bottom feeders. I used to consider telemarketers the least desirable profession, but upon reflection, journalists, politicians, and telemarketers all engage in similar behaviors at various times.”

Wagner secured her seventh consecutive term in November 2024, after which Ray became a fundraising consultant for local nonprofits.

A constant theme in Ray’s life was his passion and willingness to give back. A devoted Blues fan, he would grab Game Time, a fan-created zine, before home games and always made it a point to greet fellow St. Louisans who recognized him. He inspired countless journalists and went above and beyond to support his employees, offering extra time off during challenging periods and attending colleagues’ baby showers and children’s birthday celebrations. Proudly, he shared stories about his own kids, Benjamin and Brielle, now college students, emphasizing that parents should listen and can learn valuable lessons from their children.

Last year, just before Mother’s Day, Ray penned a touching column about his mother, Hanne Rose Bromet, who was rescued from Nazi Germany in 1934 at the age of nine and immigrated to