- Date Of Birth: November 27, 1938
- Date Of Death: June 18, 2005
- State: Indiana
Frantz Lamar Dantzler
Nov. 27, 1938 June 18, 2005
Frantz Lamar Dantzler of Lilac Road, South Bend, died June 18, in Memorial Hospital
after an accidental fall in his home June 17.
Frantz was born Nov. 27, 1938, in Chattanooga, Tenn., the son of Eula Marie (Wilson who preceded him in death and L.H. “Tot” Dantzler. He is survived by his father; his wife of 21 years, Gayle; her son, Aaron Zubler of South Bend; his daughter, D’Ann (Greg) Zickau of Meridian, Idaho; his grandchildren, RuthEmily, Wes and Bennett Zickau of Meridian, Idaho; his brother, Andre (Olevia) Dantzler of Signal Mountain, Tenn.; his sister, Hilda McGill of Signal Mountain, Tenn.; his nieces, Heather Allen of San Francisco, Shannon (McGill) Oliver of Ringgold, Ga., Becky (McGill) Goodson of Nobel, Ga., and Amy (McGill) Foote of Collegedale, Tenn.; and his nephews, William Allen of Bloomington, Andre (Jennifer) Dantzler Jr. of Signal Mountain, Tenn., Nathan (Paige) Dantzler of Franklin, Tenn., and Carl McGill of East Ridge, Tenn.; and his wife’s brother, Nic (Rosie) Allen of Goshen.
He also is survived by a multitude of friends in this community and throughout the United States.
Frantz began his long career in animal protection in the early 1960s in Boulder, Colo. He then worked in Salt Lake City, Utah, and in Sacramento, Calif., where he served as director of the West coast Regional Office of the Humane Society of the United States. In 1975, he and his late wife, Jean Ann, and daughter moved to Falls Church, Va.
Frantz served at the headquarters of The HUSUS in Washington, D.C., as director of the Investigations department. In that position, he traveled the country in an effort to bring about humane treatment of animals. He conducted investigations of animal abuse, working closely with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies; taught cruelty investigation and prosecution techniques at law enforcement academies; and testified before state and federal legislate committees to champion the cause of strengthening animal protection laws. Frantz influence the passage of many anti-abuse laws.
Frantz was an accomplished photographer whose work appeared in several national publications. He became a frequent source for national news media conducting reports on animal protection issues. Among the many productions in which he participated was the premier “20/20 episode in 1978, for which he conducted an undercover investigation into greyhound racing and jackrabbit coursing.
Frantz’s expertise in photography and digital technology led to expanded responsibilities in developing equipment and resources for HSUS investigators. While in South Bend, as director of technical services for the organization, he worked with investigators around the country, and internationally, sharing his knowledge in what for him had become a specialized field. He played a key role in HSUS’s expansion into international cruelty investigation. During this time, he was telecommuting from his home office in South Bend. Locally, he had been the author of the monthly column “For Pet’s Sake” in The Tribune, advising readers on the care of their animal companions. Often featured as examples form his own experience where his two beloved dogs, Hercules and Apollo.
Frantz’s many talents were legend among all who knew him. Besides his professional endeavors, he could make anything, fix anything, solve any problem and find a better way to perform an old task. He would think about a problem, solve it in his mind first and then turn it into reality. The beneficiaries of Frantz’s talents were many. He fixed friends’ cars, lawnmowers, lighting systems, computers, appliance no challenge was too daunting or too much trouble. He loved turning problems into solutions.
Frantz’s pride in his children and his grandchildren knew no bounds. Modest as he was about his own achievements, theirs were always reasons for bragging about the accomplishments of Aaron, D’Ann, Greg, RuthEmily, Wes and Ben. Above all, he passionately loved his wife, family and the friends who were family to him.
Frantz was an organ donor. His gift at the time of his death has given hope for life to three other people.
