JOHN BRADFORD "JACK" HERMANSON

HERMANSON, John "Jack" Bradford Age 84, passed away on February 10 in Cambridge, MA, due to complications from pneumonia. Born in Sioux Falls, SD, he grew up in the Depression, hitchhiked East to attend Harvard University on scholarship, moved on to Yale for graduate studies in History, journeyed to Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship, and began a long career teaching university students. A lifelong collector of art and antiques, in the 1980s he went to Winterthur and Boston University and pivoted to focus on American Decorative Arts, which became his passion. He served for some years as director of the Shirley Eustis House in Roxbury – the home of William Shirley, Colonial governor of Massachusetts - and in later years, after retirement, entertained himself by giving popular, well-attended gallery talks at the Museum of Fine Arts. His infectious love of learning and impish humor were popular with students and friends. His sense of adventure led him to travel every continent except Antarctica. His restless desire to learn also exhibited itself through numerous hobbies: sailing, chess, bonsai, alpine climbing, African sculpture, Japanese tsuba, racing motorcycles, raising goldfish, and more. He kept strange and unusual collections that chronicled his journeys and interests. He is survived by four children: Eric Hermanson and Liliana Bordeianou of Cambridge, MA, with their two children Ethan and David Hermanson, Karina Burston of Halifax, MA, Tove Reiss Hermanson and Jeffrey Leib of Brooklyn, NY, and Haldana Reiss Hermanson of San Francisco. His sister, Kay Edmondson, lives in Pennsylvania and has four children – Rich, Mary, Kathy, and Susan – with whom he was very close. He also leaves behind a partner of twenty years, Frances Steiner of Macon, GA. A small family Service was held on February 16 at Bigelow Chapel, Mount Auburn Cemetery. A second Memorial Service will be held this summer, or when the pandemic permits it. Those interested may reach out to the family for further details through John.Hermanson.Estate@gmail.com Donations in his name are welcomed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.