ROGER HANSON Ph.D.

1943 - 2022

HANSON ROGER BRIAN HANSON, PhD Roger was born June 12, 1943 in Downey, CA to Russell Nicholas Hanson and Mildred Houston. He spent his early years outside playing sports or in the hills surrounding Los Angeles, hunting with his father and brother. He dedicated his career to science. In retirement he focused on being a good husband and father, and to spending time in the mountains either hiking or surveying trails with Potomac Appalachian Trail Club GPS Rangers. Roger died from a heart attack on November 15, 2021 in Collbran, CO following a morning hunt with his brother, Gary. Roger was a lifeguard at Huntington Beach, CA. He swam competitively while at UCLA working on his undergraduate in Bacteriology and played water polo for Long Beach State University, where he earned his Master of Science in Microbiology. Roger earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Microbiology at the University of Hawaii. He was working at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in Savannah, GA, teaching and mentoring graduate students when he went on assignment to Antarctica. He was awarded the Antarctica Service Medal from the Department of the Navy for his contributions to exploration and scientific achievement. Roger traveled the world doing ocean science with Japanese, Russian, and European countries on their science vessels. During his ten years in Norway, he directed the collection and tabulation of data from the earth's coastal nations with the goal of integrating different languages and scientific formats into one global database for the world's oceans. He was working for University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in Washington, D.C. when he retired. Roger was quiet and gentle, and a man of few words. When he did speak, he was thoughtful, kind, and compassionate. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Murphy; his daughters, Erika Atkinson and Aimee Harris; his brother Gary Hanson and his sister Loha Sprowles. Roger's VA family will host a Celebration of Life at Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191 on Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Donations can be made to Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC.net / DONATE / donations form / Select Trail Maintenance Fund / Donate in Memory of Roger Hanson); or to Parkinson Foundation (Parkinson.org / Donate / Tribute Gift).Donations can be made to Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC.net / DONATE / donations form / Select Trail Maintenance Fund / Donate in Memory of Roger Hanson); or to Parkinson Foundation (Parkinson.org / Donate / Tribute Gift).