- Date Of Death: December 4, 2016
- State: New Mexico
Dr. Richard J. Hanson, age 78, a longtime resident of Albuquerque, died at home Sunday, December 4, 2016 of complications from brain cancer.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Karen Haskell; his children, Dr. Eric Hanson and wife Dr. Gwen Hanson, Christina Carrie Hanson and husband Todd Kelley, Dr. Joe Hanson and wife Bethany Hanson, and Fred Hanson; his four granddaughters, Stephanie Kelley, Lauren Hanson, Emily Hanson, and Summer Hanson; his brothers, James Hanson and wife, Diane Bennett, Robert Hanson and wife, Judy Hanson; his sister, Catherine Kaercher and husband, Dorje; and numerous other relatives and friends. Dr. Hanson was preceded in death by his parents, James and Irene Hanson.
He was born in 1938 in Portland, OR. He obtained Bachelors and Masters degrees from Oregon State University and received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Dr. Hanson was active professionally until the onset of his illness in 2015. He held numerous positons during his career at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, at Sandia National Laboratories, in academia and in private industry. He loved outdoor activities, walking in the Albuquerque Open Space almost every day, and traveling throughout the world. Dr. Hanson was a quiet and very thoughtful person, whose family was important to him. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
