Born: May 14, 1954 - Deceased: June 19, 2022
A TRIBUTE TO OUR BROTHER: FRANK RICHARD “RICK” HUFTY III
With our family’s deepest and most heartfelt sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved brother,
Frank Richard “Rick” Hufty III.
Rick was born to Frank Richard Hufty, Jr. and Shirley Spencer Hufty on May 14, 1954 in Norfolk, Virginia,
and passed away on Father’s Day, June 19, 2022 at Belleville Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois.
He is survived by:
- Two sisters:
- Virginia Hufty Stern, of Los Angeles, CA
- Ellen Hufty Laietta of Orlando, FL
- One brother, Warren Spencer Hufty of Tampa, FL
- He was the father of Erin M. Hufty, (deceased) and three estranged children
- One beloved aunt, Barbara Jean Collins of Anchorage, Alaska
- Several cousins and many nieces and nephews
Rick was a typical young boy, growing up in Virginia Beach, Virginia and enjoyed the ocean, water
sports, softball, kickball and riding his bicycle. He played the piano and alto saxophone, liked to juggle and ride a unicycle.
He had an interest in reptiles and owned turtles, iguana lizards, boa constrictors and pythons.
While in high school, he would take his snakes to grade schools to show and teach children about snakes
as part of their science class.
Later in life, he enjoyed riding motorcycles, driving Corvettes, and flying ultralights.
Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Accounting were disciplines in which Rick excelled and proved to
be an outstanding student. A graduate of Morton High School, Morton, Illinois (1972), he graduated from Illinois State
University (1976), in Normal Illinois with a double major in Accounting and Mathematics.
He was on the Dean’s List every semester, a member of the Honor Society of Illinois,
AICPA and other business organizations. He passed the CPA exam in 1976,
accepted a position with Goldberg Geiser, CPA, Co., Ltd. in Chicago, Illinois and was quickly promoted to
Managing Partner of the firm.
In 1978, he married Carolyn Forshey, however, sadly, the marriage lasted only a few years.
He remarried in 1988, and had four children, one deceased, they lived in West Chicago, Illinois.
Subsequently, Rick relocated the family to Tampa and Miami Florida areas, where they made their home for many years.
Rick was a good father and provider; he worked long, tiring hours during his career at CPA firms and spent
most of his “free time” with his family, boating in the ocean, swimming in their backyard pool and attending his children’s sporting events.
Rick was a natural handyman around the home and enjoyed yard work as well as construction and woodworking projects.
A PADI certified diver, Rick loved the Caribbean, of which his favorite islands were the Caymans, and was an avid scuba diver.
He was an excellent chef and grill master whose culinary dishes would have challenged the best from Bobby Flay’s BBQ Throwdown.
Rick loved large breed dogs, especially German Shepherds and Great Danes, and had a kind heart toward helping
to provide first aid and to care for and save injured animals.
As his baby sister, Virginia, I remember Rick as the “Leader of our Sibling Pack”. A gentle, easy going brother who was thoughtful
and patient in his decision making process and lived life on his own terms. We all learned from his helpful
tutoring sessions with our homework and by observing him. (Rick often reminded me that my payback was giving him “on command”
back rubs and massages, an enjoyment he claims he “inherited” from our father!)
In his later years, I became his loyal advocate, attorney-in-fact and caregiver.
Rick died, holding my hand, after a long battle with lung cancer. I will miss you my brother and dear friend.
I can speak for all of us, Rick; WE LOVE YOU and we are so very grateful for the time we shared here, on Earth, with you.
To all of our relatives and Rick’s friends, we welcome your prayers for Everlasting Love, Peace and Forgiveness for Rick, our brother.
Presently, there is no date scheduled for a Memorial Service.
Donations may be made in Rick’s honor to the American Cancer Society and/or to the ASPCA.
8 Comments
I am so very sorry to hear about Rick’s passing. I enjoyed his visits to Virginia Beach so much when He would visit our family. I know of his love for animals. I remember searching the house for his chameleons and stunning flies for them to eat. Rick was such fun and would spend time amusing his younger cousins. I pray he is at peace. Mom and I have made a contribution to the ASPCA in his honor.
I remember my cousin Rick loved the Beatles music. He played the piano I believe by ear. He knew the Batman theme and Wipeout song. Je was my cool cousin. His mom and my dad were siblings. When he lived in Virginia our family was very close along with the other cousinss too. I will miss my cousin Rick and pray his afterlife will be peaceful.
Come Holy Spirit, Bring your comfort and peace to family and friends during this difficult time.
So sad to hear of Rick’s passing. He was in my class in high school. Was always friendly and kind to everyone. Thoughts and prayers with you and your family.
I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your brother Rick. I was in his class at Morton High School. I remember him as a very sweet and caring guy. He will be missed by many. Sending prayers and hugs to all the family.
A good friend in High School, he was supposed to have accompanied me and two other classmates on a post graduation road trip from Morton to visit his “hometown,” Virginia Beach. Work caused him to miss the trip, but we visited many of the haunts he described. We lost track of one another after that. Sad to hear of his passing. May his family find peace in his absence.
You guys Doug and I are so sorry to hear about Rick ! I remember when he would bring snakes outside and sit in the yard with them when I was a little girl. it would scare me that they would come to my house and he would promise he wouldn’t let it happen. He is at peace now.
I am so very saddened to read of Rick’s passing. I am also grateful that he had Virginia with him when he passed. I will cherish the many fond memories of my years spent with Rick, riding on the back of a motorcycle or in one of his many corvettes. He was a kind man with an artistic soul combined with a super sharp accountant’s brain. I am also happy to read he got to spend time in the ocean as it was always his favorite place. My deepest condolences to Virginia, Ellen and Warren. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.