January 12, 2022

Bulk Carriers founder dies, Richard Stephen Hartrick. Bulk Carriers Founder Dies – Richard Stephen Hartrick, who in March of 1976 founded Bulk Carriers Transportation Equipment Co., died Dec. 18 at his home... following a year-long illness. Richard Stephen Hartrick, who in March of 1976 founded Bulk Carriers Transportation Equipment Co. (BCTE), died Dec. 18 at his home in New Philadelphia, Ohio, following a year-long illness. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Nov. 24, 1946, Hartrick was a son of the late Richard and Gertrude Grzelewski Hartrick. He grew up in Western New York and attended college at Wisconsin University. In the early 1970s, Hartrick was a salesman for Kari-Kool Equipment and in 1976, established Bulk Carriers Transportation Equipment Company. He went on to establish other companies, including Bulk Carrier Leasing, Tank Leasing Corp., Dizz Transportation, and Bulk Carriers Service. Anyone who knew Rick was well aware that his work was his passion and his labor of love. Hartrick built his businesses to care for his family and had remained an active part of them up until his passing. “However, it was never just family that Rick cared for. His outgoing personality allowed him to never meet a stranger,’’ family members said. “Without hesitation, he would give anyone in need the shirt off his back. As a self-made man, he understood that sometimes people needed a little help to succeed in life, and seeing that success was sometimes all the repayment Rick needed. He also was a strong supporter of 4H and many school organizations through the years.’’ Hartrick is survived by his wife, Marsha Walters Hartrick; four children, James (Carrie) Hartrick, Jennifer (Becky) Rhodes, Rachel (Craig) Miller, and Richard A.J. (Lori) Hartrick; a sister, Sharon Rostad; two brothers-in-law, William (Rayetta) Walters, and Ronald (Victoria) Walters; a sister-in-law, Patricia Walters, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Rick was preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law, Harold and Margie Walters; a sister, Patricia DePan; a brother-in-law, Richard Walters, and his former wife, Elena Hartrick. Cremation care will be conducted through the care of the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home and Crematory at New Philadelphia.