Folsom Funeral Service

Robert Brand Hanson, of Shirley, Massachusetts and formerly a longtime resident of Dedham, died Saturday, September 2, 2023 at his home in Shirley. He was 77. Bob was born July 2, 1946 in Norwood, Massachusetts, the only son, and the middle child of the three children of John Andrew and Virginia May (Gibson) Hanson. He graduated from Dedham High School with the Class of 1964 and from the Class of 1968 from Harvard University in Cambridge. Bob was the Executive Secretary for the Town of Dedham for many years and later served as the Town Manager for the towns of Pepperell and Ashby. A noted historian, Bob served as the President of the Dedham Historical Society. He was the third generation to hold the position of secretary for the Society in Dedham for the Apprehension of Horsethieves, and a proud member of the National Lancers, a ceremonial cavalry squadron of the Massachusetts Organized Militia. In addition, he had been a member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, the Treasurer for Allin Congregational Church in Dedham, a member of the Sons of Norway, and he attended Andover-Newton Theological School for a year. In some spare time he taught himself Norwegian. Bob is survived by his two sisters, Joanne A. Hanson, and Doris L. Walker, both of Dedham; two nieces, Kristen Overman, of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Andrea Wright of Sedona, Arizona; and two nephews, Scott Stone of Dover, New Hampshire and Erik Walker of Pasadena, California. He was a longtime partner of the late Martha Koziol. A Memorial Service will be held on September 30th at 1 pm at the Allin Congregational Church, 683 High Street, Dedham. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Allin Congregational Church, 683 High St, Dedham, MA 02026, or to the Dedham Museum and Archive (Dedham Historical Society), 612 High St., Dedham, MA 02026, or online at https://www.dedhammuseum.org , would be appreciated.

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