Former CFM staffer dies: Mary Hartzheim, 1968-2005

A beloved member of the CFM family, Mary Hartzheim, 37, passed away in Boston December 15, 2005. According to her husband, Fred Herlitz, she succumbed to a rare form of leukemia. Mary served as manager of multi-state public affairs for Conkling Fiskum & McCormick (CFM) from September 2000 to February 2004.

“Those of us who worked with Mary knew we were blessed – by her intelligence, her light-hearted humor and her remarkable spirit,” says CFM Partner Pat McCormick. “The CFM family has suffered a great loss. Fred and Mary's extended family are in our prayers.”

Mary earned a masters' degree in public administration and a B.A. degree in political science, both from the University of Wisconsin. She was an accomplished distance runner and a member of the 1990 University of Wisconsin's 4X1500 relay team that set the American women's record in that event. “Her teammate on the relay was three-time U.S. Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton, who remained a close friend,” McCormick noted.

Prior to joining CFM, Hartzheim was Manager of State Regulatory Affairs for Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she handled compliance issues and relations with state alcohol beverage regulatory agencies. In addition, Hartzheim managed state and local government affairs issues related to Miller’s introduction of beer packaged in plastic bottles.

She served as manager of state affairs for the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) in Washington, D.C., from 1997-1999. In this position, she worked on behalf of the world’s largest food and consumer goods companies, advocating the interests of the industry at the state government level. Before her GMA post, Mary held the position of Northeast government affairs representative for Miller Brewing in Boston from 1994-1997.