J. Erik Hart ’70

J. Erik Hart ’70, of Jacksonville, Fla.; Aug.3, from a lengthy illness. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he returned to Providence and unexpectedly fell into a career as an arts manager. He attended the Institute in Arts Administration at Harvard and for more than 15 years worked with companies in Rhode Island, New York, Louisiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Florida. In 1985 he was a cofounder and executive director of the Miami City Ballet. In 1987 he was offered the opportunity to manage downtown’s historic Florida Theatre and served as the theatre’s executive director and president for 25 years. He retired from the theatre in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Gayle; three sons; two grandchildren; and a sister.