08/15/2023
Fellow Scouters, it is with profound sadness I share with you the death of Henry R. Hanson. Henry died Saturday, August 12. His funeral will take place on Saturday, August 19 at Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home in Vineland. The gathering is 9:00 am to 11:00 am with the funeral service starting at 11:00 am.
https://www.wbfuneralhome.com/obituary/henry-hansen
Henry lived the Scout Oath and Law every day of his life. “To help other people at all times” was the guiding principle of his life.
He served as the Council president of the Southern New Jersey Council. For many years he was Vice President of properties on the Southern New Jersey and Garden State Council’s Executive Board.
He is an Eagle Scout and a recipient of several Boy Scouts of America local and regional recognitions. He was presented with the Silver Beaver from the Southern New Jersey Council; the Silver Antelope presented by the Northeast Region of the Boy Scouts of America; the District Award of Merit by the Cumberland District and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. At a recent Cumberland-Salem Distinguished Citizen award reception he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Along with his wife Kathleen and many of his friends, he endowed the Kathleen and Henry Hanson Scouting Museum at the Loren S. Riggins, Jr. Scouting Service Center. He was always so happy giving tours and sharing his memories of Scouting. Take a moment to enjoy a tour of the museum, led by Henry by clicking this link .https://www.gardenstatescouting.org/about/ it will take you to the Garden State Council website. You need to scroll down to the video.
Henry was a storyteller. He would share his experiences of Jamborees, Chimney Mountain Scout Camp, building the council service center and the storage garages at Roosevelt, the renovation and enlargement of the trading post at Camp Roosevelt (dedicated as the Henry Hanson Trading post), and his lifetime friendships with other Scouters. Many of whom are welcoming Henry to the Great Campsite in the Sky.
When Henry told a story he kept you spellbound. His ability to remember details was amazing. He told the story as if it was yesterday. His enthusiasm for the story and the friends in the story was inspirational Of course, most stories had their Kleenex tissue moment as Henry remembered his friends in the story.
Friendship and loyalty are two words that come to mind when I think of Henry. He lived the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan every day of his life.
I have been privileged to share my Scouting Journey with Henry. He, along with his friend Loren Riggins and many others were the Godfathers of Scouting in Southern New Jersey.
I hope many of you are able to attend the funeral on Saturday. I recommend the Scout uniform. I also encourage you to share your memory of Henry on the funeral home’s website. Henry gave so much of his life to Scouting our tribute to him will be the memories you leave. Your memories give meaning to how Henry affected our lives and the inspiration he gave us.
As I reflect on my many memories of Henry, I recall this poem the Afterglow:
"I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun;
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done."
Henry Richard Hansen, age 91 of Vineland, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 12, 2023 in Inspira Medical Center, Vineland. Henry was born in Teaneck, NJ to the late Robert and Agatha Vogel Hansen and was a resident of Vineland for most of his life. He was
