Frank Harold Hartig

Frank Harold Hartig Jr., born May 17, 1951, in Washington, D.C., passed away peacefully on Friday, August 29th, 2025, in Durham, NC.

We know Frank was greeted lovingly in Heaven by his mother, Frances Louise Hartig, his best girl Sugar (black lab) and his father, Frank Sr.

Frank grew up in Hyattsville, MD, and graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Leisure Services Management. During college, he loved working for the City of Takoma Park in the Parks and Recreation Department. Once he earned his degree, his career began with the Maryland National Capitol Park and Planning Commission. He moved to Sarasota, FL, in the late 1980s and served as a supervisor at Sarasota County Parks & Recreation. Then Frank moved to the Durham area, where his extended family was living. He worked and retired from Orange County Parks & Recreation as a Special Events & Public Relations Supervisor.

Frank loved photography and taking photos of action sports, people, and, of course, the tigers. He loved music and once had a huge collection of albums that amazed his niece and nephews. He enjoyed coaching soccer, lacrosse, and thrived on organizing large community events like Hog Day in Hillsborough, NC. In his retirement years, he volunteered at the Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro, NC, where he found his passion. Anyone he spoke with came away with awe and respect for the work that was performed at the sanctuary, and really could feel his excitement and love for the "Big Cats". His home was decorated with pictures of the tigers so he could keep them in his heart always. He left a loving little companion dog named Bubbles. He and Frank were the best Buds.

Frank leaves one sister, two nephews, and one niece, along with nineteen grandnieces and nephews. His friends and family will sadly miss him and his kind soul. The family would like to thank Duke University Hospital for the care he received, which made his passing as comfortable as possible.

No service will be planned, but if you would like to honor and celebrate Frank's life with a memorial, the Non-Profit Carolina Tiger Rescue has a link to donate in Frank's name in their "In Honor/Memory" program, which provides funding for their sanctuary. A link is attached below:

https://funraise.org/give/Carolina-Tiger-Rescue/aeac822e-41a2-40e6-991c-43640e679216/