Engineer – Fire Station 80
Deceased:
October 3, 2020
Appointed:
02/27/1950
Pensioned:
06/01/1980 – FS80
Services:
Private
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Bob Hanson was the first person who greeted me at Fire Station 71 in 1977 at one of my favorite assignments. I arrived early on my first day and was eager to familiarize myself with the station, personnel and my Captain. I also was concerned about making a good impression upon the “A” Platoon so I decided to trim the bushes and clean up the shrubs. Now that was my first mistake because when I was about half way through my little project, Engineer Hanson approached me and was NOT happy. Little did I know that he had been doing that particular task for years and I apparently messed up his impeccable schedule. Before long, he was the go-to guy for me when I needed something. My experience at FS 71 was perhaps the best of my field career. He was a gentle man and certainly a gentleman. He told me all about his life, its ups and downs and we became friends. He was a slow talking fellow but I learned many lesson from him, many of which had nothing whatsoever to do with our chosen profession. He was helpful in so many ways and shared with me many personal thoughts and some very difficult situations. From these I took away many lessons of life which have stayed with me for the last 43 years. Some people retire and go off into the sunset while others remain vividly in our minds. Bob was one who has remained in my head as an example of how good people can be. His patience and understanding were far beyond what I could have expected. in reality, I thought about Bob for many years and then noted his passing; his transition from our time to eternity. Requiescat in pace Bob.