Frank Hartge ‘humbled’ by Catholic Man of the Year award

Frank J. Hartge III of Gahanna St. Matthew the Apostle Church has been selected as the Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club’s 2019 diocesan Catholic Man of the Year.

Bishop Frederick Campbell will present him with the award at the club’s meeting following the 11:45 a.m. Mass on Friday, Feb. 1 at Columbus St. Patrick Church, 280 N. Grant Ave. A $10 donation is requested to cover the cost of the luncheon.

“I was quite surprised when I got the call informing me I was going to be honored,” Hartge said. “I feel humbled because I know some of the men who have received the award in the past. Now I have a new New Year’s resolution, and that will be to try to live up to the implications of this honor and to the standards set by the other men of the year.”

In a nomination form for Hartge, St. Matthew parishioner Steven Davis wrote, “Frank has been a wonderful friend and pillar of an example of what a Catholic man is all about. Frank’s devotion to God, family and neighbors is exemplary to all that come in contact with Frank. His understanding of virtues and morals and his personal testimony show his commitment to the Catholic faith.”

And, in a testimonial letter attached to the form, parishioner Jeff Bernard wrote, “He is a deeply involved member of his parish and community and deserves recognition for his quiet and humble service. He has great zeal for the beauty of our Holy Mother Church and is quick to defend her publicly and privately. I’ve learned a lot from him about what it means to be a strong Catholic man.”

Hartge’s son Father Michael Hartge, pastor of the Perry County Consortium of Catholic Parishes in New Lexington, Crooksville, Corning and Junction City, wrote, “For his entire life, his Catholic faith has been central and important to him. ... In recent years, he has been even more convicted in his faith and has increased his devotional life. ... More convincing that he is deserving of such recognition is the way his four children all love and practice their Catholic faith today.”

Frank Hartge, 64, grew up in Detroit and is a 1976 graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in economics. He has been employed as business manager at St. Patrick Church for the past five years. Before that, he spent most of his career in shopping center management, primarily for the Cleveland-based Richard E. Jacobs Group, whose properties at one time included the Northland, Eastland and Westland malls in Columbus.

He and his wife, Judeen, a teacher at St. Matthew School, have been married for 36 years. Besides Father Hartge, their other children are Dr. Frank Hartge IV, serving with the U.S. Navy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md; Margaret Hartge, who teaches religion at Columbus Bishop Hartley High School; and Joseph Hartge, a research assistant for an economics professor at Yale University.

At St. Matthew Church, Frank Hartge is a committee member for the parish Perpetual Adoration chapel, a sacristan, a lector, a hand-bell choir member, a participant in the That Man Is You! program and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is a past president of the Bethesda Healing Ministry for individuals and families impacted by abortion and a board member for Back in His Arms Again, which helps people dealing with the loss of an infant through miscarriage or early death. He also is part of the enthronement program of Sacred Heart Columbus, a volunteer for St. Gabriel Radio and the diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference, treasurer of the Serra Club of North Columbus and a member of the Catholic Laymen’s Retreat League.    

He was chosen for the award by a selection committee consisting of members of the league, the Catholic Men’s Ministry, the Serra Club, the Knights of Columbus and the luncheon club.
The club established the honor in 1957, awarding it to John Igoe of Columbus St. Agatha Church, and has presented it every year since then. The 2018 recipient was Thomas J. Vollmer of Reynoldsburg St. Pius X Church.