Francis B. Haas, Jr.

Francis B. Haas, Jr., 88, formerly of Bellevue Park, Harrisburg, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Osteopathic Hospital.

Born June 1, 1926 in Harrisburg, he was the son of the late Francis B. Haas, Sr. and Miriam (Ryder) Haas, and was also preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Gailey and Jean Hess.

Frank graduated from William Penn High School in 1943, and immediately entered Bucknell University. When he turned 18 the following year, he joined the Army Air Corp, was discharged in 1945, and returned to Bucknell, receiving his B.A. in 1947. After a year off for illness, he entered the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and graduated with his L.L.B. in 1951.  In August of that year he began his law career with McNees, Wallace and Nurick,  on Pine Street in Harrisburg where he became Managing Partner from 1972 to 1982 and where he remained until his retirement in 1995 (and where he could be found more often than not after he retired).

During his long and storied career, he served as General Counsel and Director of the Harristown Development Corporation; was founding Solicitor for Harrisburg Area Community College; had been Solicitor for the city of Harrisburg, the borough of Dauphin, the Harrisburg Area Industrial Development Corporation, and the Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority; and was Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the United States, serving as Hearing Officer in Conscientious Objector cases.  In addition, he was the recipient of the Capital Region Economic Development Corporation Catalyst of the Year award in 1997.

Frank had numerous memberships in professional and civic organizations, and held office in many of them.

He was a life member of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees; and was dedicated to public education, a legacy of his father, who was former President of Bloomsburg University.  He was an avid reader, especially of historical biographies.  Frank also supported high school sports, and could often be seen cheering on the local teams.

He possessed a broad knowledge of legal issues across a wide range of practice areas and was admired for his impeccable judgment and unshakeable integrity.

Surviving is his wife of 57 years, Joan L. (Yingst) Haas; 2 sons (of whom he was exceptionally proud):  David R. Haas (and Jean Haas), Wilson, NC and Steven K. Haas (and Denean Bressi), Harrisburg; 2 grandsons:  Dante Bressi and Marco Bressi; nieces, nephews and a host of friends and colleagues, all of whom will miss his intelligence and wit.

Services will be held 1:00 pm, Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, 1280 Clover Lane, Harrisburg, with Rev. Donna Renfro officiating.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the  HACC Foundation, (with F. B. Haas, Jr. Scholarship Fund written on the memo line), One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, 17110.

W. Orville Kimmel Funeral Home, Inc., 2001 Market Street, Harrisburg, is handling the arrangments.