Life Tributes Frank Haeg

April 7, 1933 - October 6, 2023

Haeg, Frank C. 1933 2023 Frank Haeg died at his home in Santa Rosa, Calif., on October 6, 2023 after a short illness. He was 90 years old. He was born in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 7, 1933. He graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1951. He attended the University of Minnesota first majoring in animal husbandry and then majoring in Education, graduating in 1957. During his undergraduate days, he was active in campus student events, and musical and theatre productions. He also attended the University of California at Berkeley where he received a certificate in Public Administration. ~ After completing military service as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Frank moved to California. He was employed by the City of Berkeley as Director of Recreation until his retirement in 1994. He was honored on his retirement by the City Mayor who designated May 31, 1994, as Frank Haeg Day in the City of Berkeley. Previously, he held positions with the Alameda County Health Dept., the City of Oakland Recreation and Parks, and the City of Richmond Recreation and Parks. He also served as Director of Recreation for the City of Columbia, Md., from 1967 to 1969. Mr. Haeg moved to Santa Rosa on his retirement from the City of Berkeley and became an active volunteer in community affairs. He served on the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury, the Santa Rosa Board of Community Services, the Santa Rosa Water Ways Advisory Committee for Creek Restoration, the City of Santa Rosa Master Plan Update Committee, the City of Santa Rosa Merit Awards committee, and The Luther Burbank Home and Gardens Board, where he was the chairperson for five years. Frank was honored by the Santa Rosa City Council on May 25, 2010, with a special proclamation for his outstanding volunteer service to the Santa Rosa Community. The Santa Rosa Merit Awards Committee also presented him with a plaque recognizing him for his outstanding leadership and volunteer work. Frank also taught at City College of San Francisco for over 42 years as an adjunct professor of Supervision and Management. His innovative teaching methods won recognition from students, his colleagues, and administrators. He retired in 2017. Mr. Haeg was a member of CA Parks and Recreation Society. In 1979, while Director of Recreation for the City of Berkeley, he was the catalyst in developing the first Adventure Playground in California, at the Marina in Berkeley, CA. It is still in operation at the Berkeley Marina. In addition, he was responsible for grant writing, which secured over a million dollars of grants for parks, recreation facilities, and social programs for the City of Berkeley. Mr. Haeg also gave generously of his time to charities. He served on the Board of Directors of Canon Kip Community Center of San Francisco. He was Board member, President, and Chair of the Yuba River Recreation Group. In addition, he was Chairman of the Board of the Bay Area Seafarers Service in the International Maritime Center, Port of Oakland, which provided social, counseling, and emergency services to seafarers and the maritime community. Frank loved to travel in his younger days. His many travels included countries in the region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (including the West Indies), and Costa Rico. Also, on several occasions, many counties in Europe. One of the most exciting were trips to South American countries; Columbia, Venezuela, Peru (Machu Pichu) and Ecuador. His last exciting trip was to the Galapagos Islands, a Pacific Ocean archipelago on the equator, about 650 miles west of Ecuador, noted for giant tortoises and many other endemic species. These were the sites of Charles Darwin’s 1835 observations, which helped him to form his theory of natural selection. He is survived by a sister and brother-inlaw, Betty and Bill Engel of Shakopee, Minn.; brother and sister-in-law, James and Dianne Haeg of Austin, Texas, and brother and sister-in-law, Jerome and Patricia Haeg of Turtle Lake, Wis. Also, there are many nieces, and nephews; great and great-great. He was predeceased by his sisters, Nancy Miller of Keokuk, Iowa, Marguerite Dean of Coon Rapids, Minn.; and his brother, Stephen Haeg of Minnesota. Frank’s reputation was legendary for his keen sense of humor, admired and appreciated by his many friends. He leaves behind a wide circle of close friends and admirers. Contributions can be sent to the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, Luther Burbank Foundation Fund, 250 D Street, Suite 205, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95404, in his memory. Private family burial, Grandview Cemetery in Hopkins, Minn.