06/25/2025
Edward C. Hartung, 87, of Fort Wayne, Indiana passed away on June 13, 2025, after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his parents, George Hartung and Lillian (Frome) (Hartung) Graham, his brother Russell Hartung and his beloved boxer Ruby.
He is survived by his children, Robert Hartung of Endicott, New York; Eric Hartung (Suzanne) of Croton-on-Hudson, New York; and Pamela Biro (Stephen) of Germantown, Maryland; a stepdaughter, Ana Kravitz of Fort Wayne; and his grandchildren, Amanda Hartung (Cameron) of Baltimore, Maryland and Samuel Hartung of Endicott, New York; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Ed was born on February 21, 1938, and was raised in Burnt Hills, New York. After graduating from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School in 1955, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, earning an honorable discharge in 1963. For the remainder of his life, his love for the Corps, his patriotism for his country and pride in the flag never faded.
Ed earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1963. Ed began a long career with General Electric, first in Philadelphia, PA, then Lynn, MA, and later with the Large Motor & Generator Department in Schenectady, New York. Ed held several technical and supervisory positions until 1984, when he left GE to found REM Technologies, Inc. with two fellow engineers. Ed held the titles of Principal Engineer and Vice President until 1988.
In 1988 Ed rejoined GE in Fort Wayne and served as Senior Project Engineer for the Custom 8000 motor line. He also was the Technology Manager for nearly a decade with Medium AC Products manufactured by GEVISA in Campinas, Brazil.
Ed retired from GE in 2000, but still had a strong desire to work, so in 2006 he founded AC Motor Technologies, Inc, serving a number of customers who were using motors he helped to design in the 1970s. Ed used his knowledge to invent improvements to the excitor designs, and trigger and rectifier circuitry. He built and tested each of the assemblies by hand before delivering them to his customers, in some cases installing the parts himself on-site.
Ed sold his business in 2021 at 83 years old and then started AC Motor Consulting, LLC, continuing to apply his motor expertise until illness prevented it.
Ed had a deep understanding of motors and motor design, creating novel computer programs in the 1970s for the simulation of synchronous motors and the modeling of excitation systems and motor load. Ed produced new computer programs throughout the 2000s for his business, and he created and taught a series of courses to share his knowledge with the next generation of engineers.
Ed was awarded three US patents during his time with GE and REM Technologies, all relating to motor design and operation.
Ed earned his private pilot license in 1989. Flying became a favorite hobby for Ed, and he greatly enjoyed flying to visit family and to see the US. The mechanical checks, the preparations, and the precision required to successfully complete a flight resonated with Ed, and he carried that love of flying with him into his final days.
Ed will be remembered for his problem-solving abilities, for the numerous projects he undertook on his home, and for the help he gave to his neighbors. Ed enjoyed tinkering away in his garage, and was always looking for a way to get things done. His drive to achieve the objective at hand never left him.
The family thanks the staff at Coventry Meadows for their care and support of Ed during his time there. The family also extends our sincere appreciation to Amanda, Brittany and Melissa with Solace Hospice Care for their focused, attentive and compassionate care for Ed and his family during Ed's final days.
The family will hold a memorial service in the Albany, New York area at a future date, with interment of ashes to follow at Memory Gardens, Albany, New York.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ed's memory to benefit Marine Corps service members and their families, such as the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (mcsf.org) or Semper Fi & America's Fund (thefund.org), or to Solace Hospice Care, mailed to 280 Commercial St, PO Box 490, Roanoke, IN 46783.
