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Helen Hansen Obituary
Helen Zarifes Hansen was born in Long Beach, California, the daughter of Vivian and Peter D. Zarifes. From an early age, Helen demonstrated a love of family, including her Greek heritage. Her parents were immigrants who emphasized the importance of family life, faith, education and a strong work ethic. Helen embodied these values, along with her passions for community service, mentorship and athletics. She thrived in school, graduating from Long Beach Polytechnic High School, as did her late brother, the Honorable James P. Zarifes. Helen went on to attend Stanford University where she was elected Student Body Vice President, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and Master's in Education. After college, Helen embarked on a 38 year career in the Long Beach Unified School District, where she was known for her strong commitment to students and her pioneering spirit. She progressed from the classroom to administration to become Principal of Lakewood High School, LBUSD Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent of High Schools, among many other fulfilling roles. Helen married Logan Stephens Hansen in 1959. Together they cultivated a strong family life while sharing a love of their children, travel, the outdoors, and Stanford football. They enjoyed cycling, hiking and walking tours in the US, Europe and Asia. Helen was a devoted civic leader, serving in a variety of leadership positions, including Director, Vice Chair and Secretary, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, President, Long Beach Water Commission, and Commissioner, California Postsecondary Education Committee. Her philanthropic endeavors included Assistance League of Long Beach CAMEO Auxiliary, Soroptimist International, Long Beach Day Nursery, Arthritis National Research Foundation, and Camp Fire Long Beach, among others. She is survived by her children, Bill and Peri, as well as a niece, nephews and godchildren. Memorial Services will be held at 7:00 pm, Friday and Funeral Services at 9:00 am, Saturday both at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 5761 E. Colorado St., Long Beach. The burial will be on Saturday at Forest Lawn Cypress. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to any of the philanthropies mentioned above, Stanford University Fund for Undergraduate Education, or the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Long Beach Building Fund. Please sign the guest book at www.presstelegram.com/obits.
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Memories and Condolences
for Helen Hansen
Joyce Bailey
June 14, 2025
Helen - I think of you so often. You were such an inspiration, community advocate, teacher, leader & good fiend. I am blessed to have had you in my life. You may be gone but not forgotten. You touched so many, contributed so much & continue to be missed. Love - Joyce Bailey
Roland Riopelle
June 11, 2024
God bless you, Aunt Helen. I am sure you and Uncle Steve and my parents are getting up to some kind of shenanigans in Heaven. Enjoy it!
Rollie Riopelle
June 11, 2023
One of my mother's childhood friends and a wonderful friend to our family, we all miss our "Aunt Helen" and "Uncle Steve."
Russel Hoekman
June 25, 2014
Peri: I was sad when I read of your mother's passing. She was a gracious lady and an excellent administrator. I remember one conversation where she encouraged me to encourage you in Geometry. You were so nice and sweet as a student, and it was easy to see where you got that from -- your Mom.
Elsie Bennett
June 24, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. May your mom rest in peace. I spent years training your mom and dad in their athletics. We had so many conversations over the years....I am deeply saddened by this news.
Diana Dearmin
June 22, 2014
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful mother and spouse- may her memory be eternal.
Janet Jones (Turner)
June 22, 2014
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs. Hansen. I met her while working at LBSUSD in Classified Personnel. She loved her children and family dearly. We had great conversations. She was a great leader. Rest in peace.
Max Fraley
June 21, 2014
I'm so sorry to hear of Helen's passing. Our paths fortunately crossed many times as fellow educators in the LBUSD. She was an impressive leader and a most wonderful and gracious lady. My condolences to her family.
Alek & Chris Haidos
June 20, 2014
We are so saddened by the loss of our beautiful koumbara whom we loved and admired. We shall cherish the memories of many trips taken with Helen and Steve. Those were hilarious times and they were such great sports! We are feeling the void and send our love to Bill and Peri.
Alek and Chris Haidos
Joyce Bailey
June 19, 2014
I was so deeply saddened when I learned of Helen's passing. She was an extraordinary leader, mentor, role model and friend. I had the utmost respect, admiration and love for her and will miss her terribly. My deepest condolences to Peri and Bill and the rest of her family.
kathy berry
June 19, 2014
My condolences to Helen's family. Over the years I was fortunate to know her through LBUSD, the Greek community and many of her accomplishments in Long Beach. An incredible and warm woman - may she rest in peace!!
Dennis Niles
June 19, 2014
Our condolences to Bill and Peri. It was a pleasure knowing your parents.
Great people!
Dennis & Cheryl Niles
Dana Hansen
June 18, 2014
Sorry you and Dad are gone
Patrice Wong
June 18, 2014
My condolences to the entire Hansen family. I had the pleasure of working with Helen when she was heading up the CAMEO summer intern project and I was at the Long Beach Day Nursery. Year after year, we would have summer interns that she personally interviewed and selected from among the CAMEO mentees. It was always a delight to meet all of the mentees and to see how Helen had prepared all of them for the job interview - from resume prep to how to dress. Her leadership of this particular CAMEO program is just part of her legacy to this city. RIP Helen. We will miss you.
June 18, 2014
I have such fond memories of you, Auntie Helen, being such a good friend to my mom and throwing me the BEST wedding shower ever. One of my favorite childhood memories is of your family (the four of you) on bicycles stopping by our house for a drink of water. I always knew someday I would take my family on bike rides like you did! May you rest in eternal peace. See you in heaven! Love, Robin Riopelle Torok
Ryan Alsop
June 18, 2014
I had the pleasure of knowing and working with Helen for many years. She was a woman of great intellect, compassion and integrity. Of special note...She was always interested in hearing about my children...and I enjoyed seeing her light up as she talked about her grandchildren. My deepest sympathy to her family.
June 18, 2014
A great person, she will be sadly missed. My condolences to the family. Jerry Jeffery
June 18, 2014
So sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort grant you peace at this difficult time.
Matthew Lyons
June 17, 2014
I am sad to hear about Helen's passing. I knew her when she served for many years on the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners. She made a great commissioner because she was exceptional in many ways; being very smart, quick minded, tough, demanding and fair, articulate, etc. But what I appreciated the most was her warmth and what I respected the most was her unquestioned integrity. She has always been an inspiration. I will always remember her.
Marina Zarifes Amir
June 17, 2014
Dear Ziffy, as your niece and goddaughter you had a profound influence on my life from day 1. Thank you for the love, guidance, good times, laughter and excellent food. You introduced me to taquitos as a child! I loved your homemade guacamole and New Year's bread. You were a woman of many talents. I'm so thankful for all of the meaningful talks we had in the last few years..
Alison Davis
June 17, 2014
I, too, am shocked and saddened by this news. Helen Hansen was my boss at the School district and was a very fair person to work with. I will always remember what she said: "it is not a perfect world"! and that helped me in dealing with people. I send my condolences to the family - she will be missed.
Alison Davis
Pauline ( Arias) Allred
June 17, 2014
Condolences go out to Mrs. Hansen's family and friends. LHS graduate 1983. I express great loss in the community. RIP.
The Taylor Family
June 17, 2014
We are very sad to hear of the passing of Helen Hansen, she was a great lady, enjoyed working with her at LHS and the Board office. We were honored to have known her as Principal when two of our daughters went to LHS and then to have her as a supervisor. She was such a great person with many accomplishments and am so proud to have known her. Our prayers to the family. RIP HZH - The Taylor Family
Leone Torromeo
June 17, 2014
So sorry to hear about our dear neighbor. I will miss her and all her sage advice. Will keep her family in my prayers.
June 17, 2014
My daughter, Sherri, and I are heartbroken to hear of Helen's passing. Her family is in our prayers. I came to love Helen on all our inspection trips together while she was on the Metropolitan Water District Board. I admired her and shall always have fond memories....
Phyllis Ortman
Fort Collins, CO
Lois Schneider
June 17, 2014
Helen was a beautiful, classy, charming and very sweet lady. She was a very dedicated Cameo mentor and thanks to her we got to know many wonderful high school students. My condolences to her family
June 17, 2014
We were shocked to hear the sad news, Helen was a wonderful friend and boss and we will miss her. Helen started teaching right out of Standford in 1959 and I was a Senior at LB Poly High school which she hated to have me tell anyone, Ha. She didn't want anyone to know her age. Her mentor was a wondeful teacher named Barbara McMichael who's class I was in and Helen was always coming accross the hall for help or moral support as a first year teacher. Thirty years later Helen was appointed to be a Long Beach Water Commisioner and I was the General Manager, so she became one of my five bosses. I couldn't of had a more dedicated, intelligent, fair person to work with for during those many years. May you rest in peace and God Bless you and your family. Bob & Dianne Cole
shirley williams
June 17, 2014
i was so sad today to read about Helen.
she was a wonderfull friend from poly and then when she was lakewoods principal. we had many laughs as we always met at many funerals. she was a terrific lady and I will miss her.
God be with the family. love shirley
June 17, 2014
We were very saddened to learn of Helen's passing. She was a great lady with many accomplishments and dedication to Long Beach. We are honored to have know her
(John and Elizabeth Hancock)
June 17, 2014
Dear Aunt Helen:
I was so sorry to hear of your passing. Your family and mine were great friends, and I will always think of you with affection. You were a truly wonderful person -- with a spirit full of fun, bright and always welcoming. You were my Mom's best friend in High School, and stayed one of her best friends ever after -- for more than 60 years! That says something about the great person you were. We will all miss you terribly.
With love and sympathy to your wonderful family,
Rollie Riopelle
Charles H. "Charlie" Parks
June 17, 2014
My wife May, and I offer up our prayers of comfort to Helen's family during this time of sadness. I served with Helen on the Long Beach Water Commision, and knew her brother, Judge Zaffries, during the time I served on the Long Beach Police Department.
June 17, 2014
Dearest Helen - I feel so honored to have called you my friend. Our friendship throughout these many CAMEO years has been so meaningful in so many, many ways. I learned so much from you. I learned what grace under pressure was, how to persevere and how to hold your head up high and how to be a wonderful wife and mother. God blessed me by having our lives intersect in this life. I am enormously sad you have transitioned but you're now reunited with Steve. I will always treasure the memories of our beautiful friendship. Much love to you and Peri and Bill.
Jonathan Falk
June 17, 2014
I vividly remember Mrs. Hansen as the LBUSD superintendent of secondary schools who hired me in 1986. She was both sweet and intimidating! My condolences to her family.
Joyce Striewig
June 17, 2014
A deep feeling of loss came over me as I read today of Helen's passing. Our lives intersected many times over the years. We were born the same year and attended Washington Jr. High and Poly High School. After further education, marriage, and children, we reconnected in the 80's when I worked with her as her executive secretary at LBUSD, until she retired. A good friend is gone, and I will miss her. My condolences to her family during this difficult time.
melissa keyes
June 17, 2014
My heart sank when I heard this news. Helen you were an amazing woman and I am grateful to have known you
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