Harold Hanson

1926 - 2022

Harold Hanson
November 24, 1926 - September 23, 2022
Fresno, California - John Harold Hanson passed away quietly on September, 23, 2022, with his family close by. Harold grew up on a farm south of Bakersfield, met the love of his life, Harriet Burns Hanson, while an undergraduate at U.C. Berkeley, spent 10 years as a medical missionary in northern Thailand, and during and after 22 years of private surgical practice in Fresno devoted himself to collecting medical supplies to equip hospitals in lower income countries around the world.
Harold was born on November 24, 1926 in Arvin, California, to Carl and Ellen Hanson. Carl had emigrated from Sweden in 1911, while Ellen was the daughter of Swedish immigrants. They were quiet, hardworking farmers, whom Harold and his sister Elaine labored alongside during the lean, tough years of the Great Depression. Harold excelled at raising pigs. His prize sows, one of which won a blue ribbon at the L.A. County Fair in 1943, would help finance his college studies. After achieving the rank of American Farmer in the Future Farmers of America while at Bakersfield High School, Harold joined the navy. He trained as a radar technician and served at the end of World War II. Upon leaving the service, Harold entered Bakersfield Junior College before setting off for Washington State University to study veterinary medicine. A Christian retreat at Hume Lake during the summer after his first year in Pullman, WA, would change his life. He decided to dedicate himself to helping those in need by becoming a missionary doctor. Shortly after transferring to U.C. Berkeley to begin premedical studies, Harold attended a party hosted by a campus bible club, which would also be life-changing. There, he met Harriet Burns, a classmate at Cal. It was as though fate had brought them together. Harriet had also set herself on a path to be a missionary doctor. They married on June 16, 1951, after their first year of medical school at U.C. San Francisco. Harold trained in general, thoracic, and vascular surgery, while Harriet trained in pediatrics. Upon completing their residencies, they prepared to embark for Thailand where they would serve as mission doctors under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church.
During medical school, Harold and Harriet had one son, Peter, who died shortly after birth, and a few years later two sons in quick succession, Eric and Mark. Harold and Harriet arrived in Thailand with their two young boys in 1960, settling in Chiang Mai, which is nestled against the country's beautiful northern hills. At McCormick Christian Hospital, need demanded that Harold perform all manner of operations, from neurosurgery to orthopedic surgery. He also oversaw the design and construction of the region's first modern surgery ward, which is flourishing to this day. Their third son, Gordon, was born during their time in Thailand. Life in Chiang Mai was magical. The boys constructed forts in the backyard, went on Boy Scout campouts with scoutmaster Harold in the nearby jungles, and avoided the cobras that lived under the house. The Hanson family made frequent clinic trips to tribal communities in the northern hills, where Harold and Harriet would vaccinate children and provide basic medical care. Their son Eric remains active in helping Thailand's tribal people.
In 1970, Harold and Harriet returned to the United States to care for Harold's ailing father. They settled in Fresno and began private medical practice. Harold partnered with Dr. James Kemp and Dr. Margaret Hadcock, with whom he would have a long and successful collaboration. Once back in the States, Harold was struck by the contrast between America's affluence and the poverty he had witnessed abroad. U.S. hospitals routinely disposed of vast quantities of medical supplies, which on their own could satisfy the health needs of entire countries. Harold began to collect donated and discarded medical equipment for shipment to hospitals overseas. He attracted a team of volunteers, who helped him scout new supplies, repair damaged equipment, clean and pack the goods, and deliver them to port for shipment. On many weekends, Harold hosted packing parties, in which son Eric would orchestrate the loading of a large sea container and Harriet would serve one of her specialty Thai meals. During 30 years of committed service, Harold, Harriet, and their team of supporters filled 100 sea containers with medical supplies, which they delivered to 60 hospitals in 22 countries.
In 2002, Harold and Harriet moved into San Joaquin Gardens, a retirement community on Fresno Street, where Harold passed. Harold is survived by Harriet, his loving partner of 71 years, and their sons Eric (wife Darlene), an orthopedic surgeon in Fresno, Mark (wife Jean), a clinical psychologist in Rockport, MA, and Gordon (wife Caty), an economics professor in Cambridge, MA; six grandchildren (Lauren, Allison, Caitlin, Daniel, Thea, Carlyn); and three great-grandchildren (Jedidiah, Riley, Imogen). There will be a private celebration of life ceremony.