The community of St. Louis, Missouri is mourning the death of Ray Hartman, following a tragic accident that has brought an abrupt end to a long and influential career.
Hartman, 73, of St. Charles, was not just another media figure. He founded the Riverfront Times, led St. Louis Magazine, and became a familiar voice on KETC’s “Donnybrook,” where sharp debate and strong opinions were basically the whole point. If you paid any attention to local politics, culture, or race discussions in St. Louis, chances are you encountered his work or felt his influence at some point.
Those who knew him personally describe something more grounded than his public persona. Virvus Jones shared that their friendship was built on long, honest conversations about politics and race in the region. He noted that when Hartman called, you picked up, which says a lot about mutual respect. Others remembered his intelligence, his perspective, and even the entertainment he brought to televised debates, where his presence made discussions feel alive rather than staged.
Ray Hartman will be remembered as a defining voice in St. Louis media, someone who didn’t just report on the city but actively shaped how it saw itself. His absence leaves behind a gap that isn’t easily filled, especially in a space where strong, thoughtful voices are already in short supply.