Beverly Jo “BJ” Hartley is a cornerstone of strength and resilience. Raised in the Midwest, she built a bustling household with her husband, Captain Tom D. Hartley, who was a United Airlines pilot. The couple raised five children: Lisa, Linde, Leslie, Lauren, and Tom. On May 13, 1976, Captain Hartley went to work on a routine flight and tragically died that fateful day at age 46 from a heart attack. BJ was left as a 40-year-old mother with five children ranging in age from 10 to 20 who were largely dependent on her. Rather than giving in to despair, she re-entered the workforce, stepped up as the center of her family’s universe, and guided her children through their formative years with unwavering love and courage.
Her nurturing spirit and resilient outlook profoundly shaped the prominent accomplishments of her five children. For example, Lisa is an influential community leader in Normandy, France. Linde, who sadly passed from cancer over a decade ago, was the Executive Vice President and COO of SunGard Insurance and a tireless fundraiser for animal rights groups. Leslie (Sbrocco), a San Francisco Bay Times columnist, is a nationally recognized wine expert, author, and the Emmy Award-winning longtime host of PBS’s Check, Please! Bay Area and other popular series. She is also a regular guest on the Today show.
Throughout Leslie’s successful career and personal journey—including her own battle as a cancer survivor—she often credits her fighting spirit, signature warm optimism, and bright smile directly to the example set by her mother. Leslie’s daughter Grace is out and proud, as are other members of the extended Hartley/Sbrocco clan, and all are supported and loved by BJ. In fact, Grace honors BJ’s influence in a particularly personal way: with a permanent tattoo of BJ’s original wedding day photo inked on her arm. The extended family remains deeply connected, supporting each other through life’s triumphs and tribulations with the same fierce loyalty that BJ modeled for them decades ago.
In September, BJ will turn 91. 2026 has been a particularly challenging year for her, with several serious illnesses leading to multiple hospitalizations and setbacks. Throughout it all, BJ has maintained extraordinary grace under pressure, proving that a life built on unconditional love and positivity leaves a legacy that can span generations.
Published on August 27, 2016
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