Frank C. Hanson

Frank C. Hanson, 89
NORTH BERWICK -- Frank C. Hanson, 89, passed away on May 12, 2011, at the Goodall Hospital in Sanford, from complications due to a long battle with Dementia.
Frank was born in Cottonwood, Minn., on Aug. 8, 1921, to the parents of Elfie and Marion (Throop) Hanson.
Frank was preceded by his parents; and leaves Vincent T. D'Errico, his partner of 51 years; a brother, Donald and his late wife Jo of Waterloo, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; cousins, Helen Thomas and Ruth Calder of Richmond, Va.; and a step daughter, Cherry Rhodes and husband Ladd Thomas of Pasadena, Calif.
Frank attended the McPhail School of Music in Minneapolis, Minn., with the hopes of being a concert pianist. While there he would spend time watching the piano tuner and thought if I could tune it would help pay my way through school. He practiced with all his spare time and started tuning at the school and local customers.
Frank joined the Navy on Aug. 2, 1943, so he could see the world, but joked, he ended up Stationed in Boston, Mass. He never got more then three miles off Boston Harbor to work on Naval ships. He received the WWII Victory Medal, American Area, and after discharge made his home in Boston.
Frank was also an accomplished organist and played the organ at the Clifton Lutheran Church in Marblehead, Mass., for many years. He started to tune for the Steinway dealer in Boston (M. Steinert & Sons) and became head of the piano rebuilding shop and tuner, for many years.
After spending several summers in Maine, they move to North Berwick in August 1969 and commuted to Boston for many years.
He and his partner worked at the New England Conservatory of music for many years. They started a Piano Technology course there and then at the Steinway dealer (M. Steinert's & Sons), and over the years have
Frank C. Hanson
produced many first class Piano Technicians working throughout the U.S. and around the world.
He was the concert piano tuner for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Summer Music Festival for many years. He and his partner worked for many schools, colleges and Universities throughout New England. He had many true and loyal customers, many for 25 to 30 years.
His love and high regard for the Steinway piano made him one of the countries finest piano technicians. He was highly respected by the Steinway family and concert pianist from around the world, this also was the same for pop artist and the likes of Judy Garland, Lisa Minnelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Victor Barge, Beverly Sills and many others. He also was in attendance for many recording sessions, with the last being Rudolf Serkin, at his last recording at his studio in Vermont.
Frank took a sightseeing plane ride from an airport in Rochester, N.H. He love it so much that he started flying lessons at the Sanford Airport, and after four weeks, he bought an Piper Warrior airplane. He was able to get his Private license, Instrument and Twin engine rating with ease and said if he had started younger he would have been a commercial pilot. He would fly to the airport near Tanglewood and rent a wreck and do his work and fly home. He also traveled with Keith Jarred across the country and Canada and would fly to concerts, to places in Eastern Canada and Upstate N.Y. He loved to fly family, friends and students over to the Maine coast and would fly some to Portland airport for breakfast or lunch.
At Franks request, there will be no service and burial will be private in Maine, as he loved it so much.
For those desiring to donate in his name, can donate to a local music program or the Alzheimer's
Organization in his name.