Stacy John

2053 - 2023

Stacy Hanson

1953 ~ 2023

Salt Lake City, Ut-Our world is now without its kindest, most caring, most lovable curmudgeon. Stacy Hanson, a man of unshakable conviction, compassion, principle and loyalty, bid us farewell on November 5, 2023. The passion he poured into life is now a legacy of memories that we can all cherish. A towering figure and lifetime outdoorsman, Stacy could hoist a house on his backpack, bring a grizzly to its knees, cast a flat line across the Provo, carve a mountain of powder, and sail to the sunset and beyond. His heart was impressive and his features handsome. As his wife Colleen said, "Stacy attracted more women than a Nordstrom shoe sale."

Stacy graduated from both Utah State (pre-law and history) and the University of Utah (journalism), an accomplishment that left him conflicted when basketball and football schedules collided. It was at Utah State that he met his lifetime friends. That net of friendships was cast wider when he moved to Reno as a Copywriter and Creative Director. His wordsmithing skills won awards at all levels of the advertising world.

In 1995, the confirmed bachelor was dethroned when he returned to Salt Lake City and met Colleen, the love of his life. He took to the role of husband and father with ease, becoming a source of inspiration and admiration for stepchildren Danielle and Alexander, who loved Stacy as their own.

Stacy's life changed dramatically in 2007 when – while picking out a Valentine card at Trolley Square – he was confronted by a mass shooter. With a fortitude and courage few others possess, he stood up to the gunman and attempted to negotiate by humanizing the victims and de-escalating the situation, telling the gunman, "We all have families we love and just want to go home." Unfortunately, like so many other innocent victims in mass shootings, Stacy became another number in the growing epidemic of gun violence. He was the worst injured but managed to survive. The three gunshot wounds he took forever confined him to a wheelchair. However, Stacy resolved to walk again despite more than thirty surgeries and the constant presence of debilitating pain. Through it all, Stacy remained gracious, inspiring us as he strove to live his life to the fullest.

We thank the Salt Lake City Police Department, Salt Lake City Fire Department, the University of Utah Hospital, the countless Doctors, Nurses and Physical Therapists who gave us precious time with the man we love so much.

Thank you to the friends who stuck around after the cameras left and who fought and loved beside us through the hard times as well. Stacy leaves behind his wife Colleen, children Danielle, Alexander and Kelci, bonus kids, Cole and April, grandchildren Andre, Addy, Riley, and Emma, siblings Tim & Gloria, Bill & Cindy, Christine & Ken, and countless Friends.

We will celebrate a life well lived in the spring of 2024. In honor of his life and legacy, please be as courageous as Stacy and vote for responsible gun reform.