James Alfred “Batman” Hart, age 72 of Shippensburg, passed away October 14, 2025, at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Hospital. He was born February 6, 1953, in Philadelphia to the late James J. and Elizabeth (Diehl) Hart. James was widowed by his wife, Constance D. (Craig) Hart, on October 8, 2021. James graduated from the Scotland School for Veterans Children in 1971 and received his Master’s in Mammalogy from Shippensburg University in 1991.
Batman was a mammologist and bat biologist, having worked for Wildlife Specialists. He dedicated his life to bat education with the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, where just this past June, he was awarded the Lifetime Service Award “in recognition for decades of dedicated and honorable service to the conservation of wildlife within the commonwealth of Pennsylvania”. James kickstarted survey efforts for a number of under-surveyed and underappreciated species and was monumental in the move of the Shippensburg Vertebrate Museum to the State Museum of Pennsylvania. He was an experienced caver, liked repelling, and loved hunting and going to the beach.
James is survived by his daughter, Amanda Hann and husband, Shawn of Fayetteville; step-children, Frank Coover and wife, Wendy of Orrstown, Charles Coover and wife, Marcy of Shippensburg and Patrick Coover of Shippensburg; grandchildren, Gaige, Arya, Ryan, Travis, Korey, Keisha, Kayla, Charlie and Savana and multiple great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. James was preceded in death by an infant sister.
Professional services have been entrusted to Dugan Funeral & Cremation, Ltd., 51 Asper Drive, Shippensburg, PA. At James’s request, there will be no viewing. A celebration of life service will be held on November 8, 2025, at 3:00 pm. Please contact a family member for more details. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the PA Biological Survey at www.pabiologicalsurvey.org or the PA Natural Heritage Program at www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit DuganFH.com.
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