E. Ross Hanson

1925 - 2018

E. Ross Hanson, 93, died peacefully on June 3, 2018, in Savannah Georgia. He was born in Minneapolis Minnesota in 1925 to Eugene Ball Hanson and Katherine Brewster Hanson, and spent his formative years in the greater Minneapolis area, where he attended Blake Preparatory School.

In 1943 he enlisted in the Marine Corps, and was educated for one year each at Gustavus Adolphus College and Western Michigan College. In 1945 he was appointed as a second lieutenant rifle platoon leader, and was prepared to invade Japan when his mission was cancelled after the dropping of the atomic bomb. After WWII he continued his education and received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, followed by an MBA from Harvard. He continued on at Harvard as a junior faculty member until he was recalled to active duty at the start of the Korean War.

In 1953 he was hired by the Ford Motor Company where he spent 32 satisfying years in a variety of functions including Finance, Production Programming, Sales Administration, Marketing, and Personnel. In his last twelve years he managed the Technical and Transportation Operations. After retiring, he became the full-time Parish Administrator at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Mi.

His three daughters are from his first marriage to Joan Dalrymple. He met his second wife Frances Donohue while serving on the Board of Directors of Kingswood School Cranbrook, the private girl's school that his daughters attended. Frances was head of the English Department, and later became the headmistress. They had a happy marriage until her death in 2011. They shared many years of active retirement at their home at the Landings of Skidaway Island, and in their summer cottage in Vermont.

A man of remarkable memory and eclectic interests, he enjoyed cultural and intellectual pursuits and participated in sports such as tennis, squash, golf, and skiing. An enduring passion for fly-fishing took him to locations around the globe. He served on a number of environmental boards and committees, including the Nature Conservancy of Vermont. Civically minded, he was president of the Birmingham, Mi public school board, was a board member of the Vermont Studio Center Art School and held volunteer positions with the Executive Service Corps and the Savannah Economic Development Authority. He was a member of the group that selected the organ for St Peter's Church. His last 6 years at The Marshes at Skidaway were some of his richest. There he participated in a number of committees, led book club meetings and helped start a seminar for the residents on The Constitution.

Always a gentleman, he was loved in his community for his kindness, honor, and interest in others. He inspired all he met with his positive attitude, determination, and gratitude for the small things of life. He is remembered by his children for his character, patience, and enduring love.

He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Frances, his brother Brewster Ball Hanson and sister Caroline Hanson Rohrbach. Surviving today are his first wife Joan Lyman, daughters Katherine Abbott and her husband Arthur, Evelyn Hanson, and Cynthia Hanson, grandchildren Whit Mavec, Jocelyn Dove, Connor Martin, and Nathan, Noel and Geena Richards, and great grandchildren, Akasha Dove and Brooks Dove.

The Memorial Service will be Saturday, June 16 at 11 o'clock at St Peter's Episcopal Church, 3 West Ridge Road, Skidaway Island. Remembrances can be made to St Peter's Church, The Learning Center/Senior Citizens Inc., 3025 Bull Street, Savannah, Ga 31405, and Savannah Voice Festival, PO Box 2045, Savannah, Ga 31402.