Hartley Richard Kern was an enthusiast of life. He was born Hartley Richard Potter in Los Angeles, California, to Jessie Kraus/Potter/Kern and Frank Potter. When he was two years old, his father died of Tuberculosis. At four, his mother re-married Seymour Kern who adopted him. His brother Stephen was born when Hartley was eleven.
Hartley was hit by a car at age four. His damaged hip developed a severe infection. There were no antibiotics then, so he was placed in a full body cast (chest to ankles) while his hip took several years to heal. Confined to bed, his voice became his strength. He spent periods of time in a home for disabled children. A spirited child, he pushed the limits at every opportunity. Although doctors said he would never walk, he proved them wrong and began pulling himself up, then using a wheelchair, walking with crutches, and went on to backpack around the world in his 20s and complete mountaineering courses on icy terrain in his 40s.
His upbringing emphasized the strong value of education with a focus on fighting injustice and taking action to promote civil rights. He participated in activities to support minority rights, farm worker strikes, political campaigns, and he became a union activist. As a high school teacher, he worked in predominantly black schools where he was loved by his students for talking about the realities of life and encouraging them to identify their strengths and create their own life goals. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles State College (now Cal State LA).
In college, he met his first wife, Marjorie Joanne Matlin/Kern/Kern-Marshall, who inspired him to travel. Together they earned their teaching degrees, worked as teachers in northern California and then took off on a four-year adventure around the world. Hartley was a fabulous story teller and all who knew him have heard tales of him teaching in France, Japan, and Kenya, and selling paintings in Europe while driving a motorcycle with a sidecar. His tales included dangerous encounters with baboons and army ants, hitchhiking through cities and jungles, and befriending people everywhere. He was 6'4" with a big personality, and he reached out to talk to everyone.
Hartley and Margie returned to California and settled in Manhattan Beach after their world adventures. They had two children, one by birth and another through adoption, Sheryl Kern/Kern-Jones and Daniel David Kern. They opened an artisan’s cooperative with other artists and participated in the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Hartley was always excited about something new and frequently took on new hobbies. He did brief stints as an optician, making jewelry, mobiles, and running a time management business. He had diverse hobbies from sailing to photography. After 17 years, he and Margie divorced and he became a weekend parent. He introduced his kids to various adventures including backpacking, cross-country skiing, and bargain shopping. He loved to research areas of town to live in and made a sort of hobby of moving to over 30 different homes in "more interesting" areas throughout greater LA and nearby counties.
Hartley had one grandson, his daughter Sheryl’s son, Rowan Kern Jones. His second marriage of 16 years was to Jane Hacker/Kern. In his later years, he found the love of his life, Anny (Yufen) Yang/Kern. They married and he spent his final 13 years with Anny. Hartley was so happy with Anny and their marriage; he said frequently in these years that he “could not have a better life.” And, he was fortunate to have Anny’s loving care until his last breath in their home.
Hartley is survived by his wife, Anny (Yufen) Yang/Kern, his daughter Sheryl Kern-Jones, his son Daniel David Kern and his partner Holly, his step-son Brandon (Hao) Zhang and his wife Flora (Jia), his brother Stephen Kern, his ex-wife Marjorie Matlin Kern-Marshall, his grandson Rowan Kern Jones, and his step-grandchildren Justin and Joy Zhang.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, December 19th, 2022, 11:00 AM, at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, California 90601; Tierra Del Sol; Gate: 1, Section: 2, Lot: 1724, Grave: 4.
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