Frank "Tripp" C. Hart Iii

Frank C. Hart III, affectionately known as "Tripp" to his family, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Tega Cay, SC, after a valiant battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was 71 years old. Tripp was the beloved husband of Linda Dyer Hart, whom he met in 1969 and shared 48 wonderful years of marriage. Born on March 9, 1953, in Miami, Florida, Tripp grew up in Bal Harbour, Florida, as the son of Frank C. Hart Jr. and Constance Peters Hart.

Tripp is survived by his devoted wife, Linda, their son Brandon Hart, and his wife, Cason Clements of Chicago, IL, and their daughter, Deirdre Hart Chambers, and her husband, Beau Chambers of Washington, DC. He was a proud grandfather to three beautiful grandchildren: Fletcher Hart, and Maeve and Isla Chambers. Tripp is also survived by his two loving sisters, Tracy Lakow and Caren Ratcliffe, and their children, Corey and Alix Lakow, and Justin and Courtney Ratcliffe.

Tripp's educational journey took him from St. Andrew's School in Boca Raton, FL, to Archbishop Curley High School in Miami, and then to the University of Florida, where he earned a degree in Business and Finance. He dedicated 25 years to his career at Universal Music Group, a path that stemmed from his lifelong love of music. From his early days in the band "Erospace" in the 70s to his tenure at Universal, Tripp's passion for music was a driving force in his life. He passed away listening to Jimi Hendrix, a testament to his enduring love for music.

Tripp's life was filled with moments that could have taken him away from us sooner, but thankfully, he was able to compile his Greatest Hits before then.

It could have happened when he was a teenager growing up in Bal Harbour, FL, living with his mom and two sisters, Tracy and Caren, hitchhiking around the country, and learning to play the guitar while first meeting Linda Dyer, who would eventually become his wife for the rest of his life. And that would have been terrible.

It could have happened during his college years when he graduated from the University of Florida and played in random, short-lived bands like a funk/R&B band that he joined, as well as a longer-lived band like "Erospace," which, despite the cheesy name, had members he talked to up until the day he died. And that would have also been terrible.

It could have happened in his twenties when he first started working at Tropical Records and then MCA Records (later Universal Music Group), the company he would work for the majority of his life, turning his love of music into a career. And when he had his son, Brandon, in 1978. And that too would have been terrible.

It could have been in his thirties when he had his daughter, Deirdre. He was the kind of dad who would wear a Sonic Youth or Nirvana (before Nevermind ever came out) shirt to his son's basketball games. But that, too, would have been terrible.

He could have passed away in his forties when he coached his daughter's softball teams and kind of randomly ended up playing conga drums in the St. Gabriel's Catholic Church band despite being Episcopalian. And, as you might have guessed, that would have been terrible.

He may have died in his fifties when he retired from MCA/Universal, helped to organize the Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Charlotte Goes Green Festival, or when one day his wife randomly brought home a cocker spaniel named Tito. At first, he was resistant due to his loyalty to his cat, but within weeks, we are pretty sure he loved that dog more than his children. Once again, terrible.

Or his death could have come in his sixties, when he had his grandchildren, Fletcher, Maeve, and Isla. They called him "T," and he was such a great grandfather to them. Some of his last smiles came from his grandson telling him about the compliments he got from the coach of the Cub's Scout team and one of their top players, and also from his younger granddaughters making poo poo head jokes. He was the kind of parent whom his now-grown children could always turn to for advice and support. He and Linda could spend many wonderful times at the beach with their dog, Tito. And say it with me, terrible.

But it came in his seventies after a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonian Delusions. And that was not how he wanted to live his life. But now he gets to be once again with the friends and loved ones he has long since lost—I imagine the first thing he did when he got to heaven was call for his dog Tito. And he gets to wait to be reunited in time with those of us still here. And that really does not sound so terrible.

A "Celebration of Life" will be held at their home in Tega Cay, SC, to honor Tripp's memory.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society of York County in Fort Mill, SC in his honor.