Dr. Jerome “Jerry” Hantman, a noted cardiologist who worked for four decades in Howard County, died at his home in Columbia on Mar. 28 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 80.
Dr. Hantman served as chair of medicine at Howard County General Hospital for 18 years and as cardiology section chief for 30 years.
“Reflecting upon the life of my friend and mentor, what resonates most is Jerry’s passion for the highest quality of patient care delivered with empathy and a touch of dry humor,” said Dr. Michael Silverman, managing physician for Cardiovascular Specialists of Central Maryland. “He taught me and countless others about intellectual curiosity, altruism, commitment to mentorship, perseverance and collaboration.”
A native of Neptune, New Jersey, Dr. Hantman grew up in nearby Freehold and attended Brandeis University, where he played on the school’s tennis team. He graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1966, and earned a master of medical management degree from Carnegie-Mellon University.
After a medical residency in Boston and serving as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Hantman and his family moved to Columbia. In 1975, he founded the practice now known as Cardiovascular Specialists of Central Maryland.
For most of his career, he was managing partner of Cardiovascular Specialists, which has grown to be the largest cardiology practice in Howard County and offers all cardiac diagnostic modalities. Under Dr. Hantman’s leadership, Cardiovascular Specialists joined Johns Hopkins Medicine in 2010.
“Jerry’s vision sowed the seeds for exceptional cardiac care in Howard County to include ongoing cardiac research, a vibrant cardiac interventional and cardiac device implantation program and affiliation with Johns Hopkins,” Dr. Silverman said.
Dr. Hantman joined the staff of Howard County General Hospital and served as the hospital’s first cardiologist. Over the years, he served as the hospital’s chairman of the Department of Medicine, chief of the Cardiology Department, director of utilization management, director of the new coronary care unit, and president of the professional staff organization, among other key positions.
He oversaw the opening of the hospital’s first intensive care and stepdown units in 1980, and helped open the cardiac catheterization lab in 1996.
In addition, he directed the cardiology department at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, Maryland. He also volunteered his skills for many years at a free clinic in Howard County.
Dr. Hantman retired from health care in 2014 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
In his spare time, Dr. Hantman enjoyed golf, tennis, woodworking, astronomy, skiing, model trains and billiards. He also enjoyed travel and participating in Jewish community activities.
Later in life, Dr. Hantman developed a strong interest in Jewish genealogy. In addition, he collected more than 1,200 doctor figurines from around the world, many of them gifted by patients and good friends.
Dr. Hantman was the beloved husband of Irene (Saunders Goldstein) Hantman; devoted father to David (Jamie Brown), Joshua, and Deborah Hantman; step-father to Eric (Erin) Goldstein; and loving grandfather of Emma Hantman, and Addison and Annemarie Goldstein.
Dr. Hantman is also survived by his brother, Arnold (Sheila Feiler), and sister, Carol (Salem) Leaman; nieces, Leslie Hantman Smith, Lisa Hantman Brooks (Tsachee Zilberfarb), Rachel Leaman, and Jennifer Temchine (Chaim) Kaweblum; nephews, Aaron (Amy Katz) Leaman, Raven Coleman-Brooks, Benjamin Temchine (Mikela Seligman), and Michael Temchine (Eliza Feller); great-nephews, Cooper Smith, Ian Leaman, Asher Temchine, Jonah Temchine, and Jesse Temchine; and great-niece, Ahuva Kaweblum. An earlier marriage to the late Sue-Ellen (Wolfson Beck) Hantman ended in divorce.
Services were held Mar. 30 at Temple Isaiah in Fulton. Interment at Columbia Memorial Park. The family suggests a charitable donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741; Jewish Federation of Howard County, 10630 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 400, Columbia, Maryland 21044; or Howard Hospital Foundation, 5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia, Maryland 21044.
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