Robert C. Hansen

Robert (Bob) C. Hansen, 74, died unexpectedly on 10/17/22 at Kingsway Arms Nursing Home, Schenectady, NY due to complications of Parkinson's disease. He was born on 6/4/1948 in the sunny state of California (Cupertino) though he grew up on Long Island – living in North Babylon and summering at the family cottage in Stony Brook. He was a graduate of North Babylon HS and obtained both a BS in Engineering and a MS in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Bob had a long and multifaceted career working early on at Northrop Grumman Inc., and then as a stagehand on a number of Broadway shows (even once getting a hug from Bette Midler!). He commenced his New York State government computer science career in the late 70's with the NYS Department of Social Services in Albany, NY, and retired in June '08 from the Office for Technology looking forward to having more – a lot more - time for his first love - sailing.
Not only was he an expert sailor traversing the waters of Long Island Sound on his sailboats: Galena Maris; its successor, the wooden cutter Amantha II, and finally aboard Neptune's Car (his beloved Dutch 48' steel ketch); he sailed and worked on myriad other vessels as well: the Spirit of Massachusetts, the Ernestina, Maine schooners, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Dragonfly, the Sojourner Truth, and the Woody Guthrie. After retiring from NYS Bob became a First Mate on the replica of Henry Hudson's ship the Half Moon (Halve Maen) and enjoyed many Hudson River voyages on it until it took up residence in The Netherlands. Bob also sailed on as many smaller boats as he could get his hands on. He also enjoyed sailing in the Caribbean as well as experiencing river boating through Europe.
Sailing may have been at the top of the list but it certainly wasn't his only interest. From his earliest days of going "down the gully" to the creek by the family summer home in Stony Brook, Bob always enjoyed the water and all of nature's gifts. Therefore, it should be no surprise that he enjoyed XC skiing, snowshoeing, being a fur-trade era re-enactor during the Albany Tricentennial and other historic events, paddling both his solo canoe and 8-person war canoes, rowing his Adirondack Guideboats, hiking - once to the source of the Hudson River (Lake Tear of the Clouds) - plus camping with friends in the Adirondacks, Algonquin Park, the Allagash, Maine, and on an epic paddling Everglades sojourn, and other places.
Bob was a man of strong personal opinion - he liked his coffee strong, his beer and rum dark, and absolutely plain-only pizza! He was a member of a number of environmental and water-based organizations including, especially, HRS Clearwater, North River Friends, Mystic Seaport (especially enjoying the Sea Music Festivals) and the Mohawk Hudson Sail and Power Squadron. He served MHSPS as an officer at various times, including a stint as Commander, and as editor of the NRFC newsletter, The Compass.
Bob is survived by his brother Frank, sister-in-law Annette, his nieces Jessica and Amanda, grandnieces and nephews and close cousins Edie and Pat, plus numerous sailing and paddling friends located all across the eastern seaboard. He was predeceased by his parents Frank and Edith as well as a number of dear relatives and friends and his seagoing kitties Polly, Pfeisty, and Joshua (named for J. Slocum, of course).
Memorial gatherings for Bob will be held in the spring of '23 both on Long Island and in the Albany NY area. Public notice of the dates and places will be published once plans are finalized.
Those interested in commemorating Bob's life can direct condolences to family, and/or contributions in his name to North River Friends of Clearwater (NRFC), PO Box 3842, Albany NY 12203; or to HRS Clearwater, 724 Wolcott Ave, Beacon, NY 12508 (Clearwater.org)