Walter J. Hanna, Jr., 91, passed away peacefully at home Monday, March 9, 2009. He was born in Gilroy on December 15, 1917, the youngest of four children of Walter Jacob and Fannie Sandoe Hanna. He is descended from William Hanna and Thomas Rea, both pioneers of the Gilroy area in the 1850s.
Walt graduated from Gilroy High School, and from San Jose State College in 1939 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He first began flight training in college, and enlisted in the Army in 1939. He later became part of the 47th Bomb Group, rising to the level of squadron commander. His unit became part of the newly launched Allied invasion of North Africa. In 1943, he led one of the most climactic raids of the North African campaign, chasing Field Marshall Rommell’s Panzer division out of Algeria and into Tunisia. The German forces in North Africa surrendered a few weeks later. The 47th Bomb Group received the Distinguished Unit Citation and Walt was awarded the Silver Star. He received a hero’s welcome upon returning to Gilroy.
Walt retired from the Air Force in 1946 due to polio. Upon receiving his Civil Engineering License, he joined his father in the partnership of W. J. Hanna & Son, later holding the post of City Engineer for Gilroy, Hollister and Morgan Hill, and surveying lands in several Northern California counties. For a time, he served as head of the California Council of Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors, and worked to establish reasonable land use and water rights policies in the counties where he surveyed and in the state. After the death of his father, Walt formed a new partnership, this time with Arnold Brunetti, re-naming the firm Hanna and Brunetti.
For several years, Walt was on the Board of Directors of Wheeler Hospital, serving one year as President, and was a member of the American Legion Post 669. He retired to Aptos in his 70s.
Walt loved to golf and to fish. He never lost his love of flying, and continued into his 70s to pilot a small plane around the state. He treasured the mountains, trees and wildlife of California, frequently taking his family camping in the Sierras.
Walt was a kind and generous man, a man of integrity, honor and humility. Despite significant limitations resulting from polio, Walt never complained. He loved to laugh and always enjoyed a good joke
He leaves behind his beloved wife, Nancy; his brother, Sandoe; his sister, Clara May; his daughters, Nancy and Jan; his sons, Walter, Don and John; and numerous nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family and friends will miss Walt very much, but can be comforted by knowing that he is up there flying once again.
The family expresses deep gratitude to Helping Hands, ComForcare and Hospice of Santa Cruz County for their loving care of Walt.
A private family service will be held at gravesite at a later date. As he requested, memorial donations may be made in his name to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Inc. (P.O. Box 96648, Washington, D.C. 20009-6648; www.dvnf.org) or Hospice of Santa Cruz County (940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066; www.hospicesantacruz.org/make-a-difference/friends-of-hospice). A memorial celebration of Walt’s life to be held at Hecker Pass Winery, Sat. April 18th, 2:00-5:00 P.M.
