Robert Daniel Hurtig II
Bob Hurtig hailed from Cincinnati, Ohio. The Hurtig family emigrated from Germany to America. While some Hurtig family members settled in New York to seek their fame and fortune in show business (Hurtig and Seamon Vaudeville), others made their home Cincinnati.
Bob Hurtig, son of Bertha and Morris Hurtig (both deceased) and the brother of Charlotte Hurtig Delver (deceased), attended the University of Cincinnati at night in the school of Business and Economics. He left the university to enroll in the military with his buddies who wanted to fight for freedom. His military career took him to Camp Hood, Texas with the tank destroyers. He became a bombardier - navigator in World War II. Stationed at Bury St. Edmunds in England with the 94th Bomb Group, he engaged with the enemy with his bomb group, in the lead airplane for the missions against the enemy. Bob received many medals, including the Bronze Star. His greatest honor came in France when he received the highest award, the Légion d’Honneur and the title of Chevalier, a distinction bestowed upon him by the Consul General of France of New Orleans in 2015 for his valor in World War II.
Bob married Dotty (née Dorothy von Scharfenstein) in 1945 and they had two children, Dr. Dolliann Margaret Hurtig, Ph.D. and Robert Daniel Hurtig (“Danny” deceased at ten years old).
Bob worked in the liquor business as early as 1935.
His work was interrupted by his military service (1941-1945).
After his marriage, Bob made a new life with Dotty, his true love in New Orleans, LA.
He worked in the Continent Wine and Liquor Company until he assumed the Presidency of A&B Distributors for Anheuser-Busch (1949-1968).
Known as the “Budweiser Man” in New Orleans, Bob enjoyed a great life selling Budweiser. He assumed the Presidency of Claiborne Imports as a sideline. A second career took him to Strauss Liquor Company in 1968 where he became Vice-President of Marketing.
Bob Hurtig, who believed in giving his time and his talents back for others, held many leadership positions in New Orleans. He served as President of the Lions Club (1952).
A member of the Executive Club, he maintained multiple board positions during his long lifetime, including the International House of New Orleans, the 400 Orchids (American Bank), the Salvation Army, the National Beer Association, the New Orleans Tourist Commission, the Lakeview-Lakeshore Property Association, St. Pius Development,Ursuline Development.
At Saint Pius Church and St. John, the Baptist Church in New Orleans, he served as a Eucharistic Minister. Social Clubs included the Metairie Country Club, Timberlane Country Club, the Plimsoll Club and Squire Creek Country Club.
From 1968 to 2005, Bob associated with Gertrude Gardner of New Orleans and with Peter Mule of New Orleans in real estate undertakings.
Due to his success, he became a member of the Million Dollar Club.
Bob embraced a fresh and new life, again, this time in Ruston, Louisiana, when he and Dotty moved to Ruston to be with Dolly.
In Ruston, he attended Louisiana Tech for 10 years and became members of three honor societies, Delta Sigma Pi Business Honor Society, Pi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, and Pi Delta Phi French Honor Society.
Bob maintained his Real Estate License in Ruston and associated with Today’s Realty and later with Gilbert Realty where he enjoyed many years of success as Vice-President of Commercial Properties.
Bob continued his service as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church of Ruston, Louisiana.
Above all, Bob Hurtig loved God the Father whom he referred to as “Big God.” He loved Jesus and the Holy Spirit and he had a tremendous devotion to God’s mother, Mary.
He prayed the rosary every night.
He will be missed by many who admired him as “their hero,” “their adopted father,” “the little rascal, “their Uncle Bobby,” “Daddy Bobby,” but most of all, he will be missed, until she sees him again in heaven, by his daughter Dolly.
Bob Hurtig went home on Valentine’s Day to his heavenly sweethearts waiting at heaven’s gate, his wife Dotty and his child Danny.
A celebration of Bob Hurtig’s great life will be with a Mass at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Donations may be given to the Danny Hurtig Memorial Library at Ursuline Academy in New Orleans, LA.
The address there is 2635 State St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.
