If the mark of a man is the good he leaves behind when his days are finally over, Coach Bill Hartman’s life was epic by every measure. Responsible for launching the San Clemente High School Surf Team in 1977, he spent his entire career at the school before retiring in 2005. On March 30, Hartman passed away while out surfing his favorite spot at Grandview Street in Encinitas. He was 72 years old.

“He was a true legend and a mentor to so many,” remembered local pro surfer and …Lost Surfboards rep Nate Yeomans. “My senior year I was flunking surf team because I ditched too many surf classes. To make up the lost credit, Coach made a deal: for every 500 meters I would swim he would give me one day’s credit. I spent over a month swimming laps in the school pool during lunch to make up those credits. Looking back, those were some of my fondest memories with him.”

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