Forrest Robert "Bob" Hanvey Jr.

Forrest Robert (Bob) Hanvey, Jr, an aerospace pioneer and educator, died on December 4,
2024 at age 91. He was born in San Diego, California in 1933.
He attended middle and high school at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad,
California. Mr. Hanvey received two appointments to the Naval Academy, declining the
first one to go to Caltech. After a year there, he was persuaded by his mother to reapply.
He successfully sought a second appointment to the Naval Academy and in 1953 joined the
Class of 1957. While there he played on the tennis team and sang in the chorus. On
graduation he stood first in the class as the honors graduate.
He chose to be commissioned in the Air Force and was sent to MIT for a master's degree in
Aerospace Engineering. Upon completion of this degree, he was assigned to Holloman
Airforce Base, New Mexico, where he did pioneering work on inertial guidance technology.
He did rocket-sled testing and developed inertial guidance systems for missiles, which were
tested at the White Sands Missile Range. On one occasion, he flew a missile backward
toward land at Cape Canaveral to prove his work on inertial guidance systems, terrifying
the safety officer. He received a special Air Force commendation for his innovative work
which was instrumental in proving, through testing, the stellar-aided inertial guidance
concept employed in the US Navy's first line of defense.
After leaving active duty, he joined Western Union, where he led the team developing their
first programmable line interface, the WU DES PLI. A type of computing device similar to
a minicomputer, this programmable device in 1985 allowed WU teleprinters to access and
operate in the phone system as if they were a phone. After serving as Vice President of
Systems Engineering at Western Union, Mr. Hanvey then joined Citicorp as Vice President
of Communications Systems. During these years, Mr. Hanvey also served as school board
chair for the Upper Saddle River School District in New Jersey.
Retiring to Southern Maryland, he wanted to become a "retired country gentleman" and
raise Paulownia trees. He established a forestry program, conservation practices, and a
wildlife preservation program on the family farm. He was named a Farmer of the Year in
Calvert County.
However, he was persuaded to become a teacher at the local career center, tasked with
creating and teaching a popular course in Computer Assisted Design. Later he was named
the Teacher of the Year and he served as president of the teacher's union.
He was known to be an avid reader, singer, and all around "rascal" beloved by the many
friends that were drawn to his sunny inquisitive disposition. He greeted everyone who
asked how he was, even in his last days, with "Bright eyed and bushy tailed."
His first marriage to Suzanne Monnett Hanvey ended in 2002 with her death. Survivors
include his second wife, Dr. Sylvia Auton, whom he married in 2005. His
three surviving children include son, Forrest Robert Hanvey, III (Gennyfer) of Saco,
Maine; daughter Monnett Soldo (David) of Half Moon Bay, California; and daughter Dr.
Jacqueline Hines (Andrew) of Annapolis, Maryland He has a step-daughter Dr. Alyson
Russo (Nicholas) of Phoenix, Maryland. Mr. Hanvey has many grandchildren and step-
grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Dennis Hanvey of Prince Frederick,
Maryland.
Private burial will be in Prince Frederick, Maryland. A celebration of life will be planned
for later.
Donations may be sent to the Naval Academy Foundation, designated to the Class of 1957
Fellowship.