The Crowd:

The Fourth of July is a perfect day to remember a local citizen who was a great American. Stan Hanson, Stan Hanson, Corona del Mar resident, businessman, philanthropist, father, husband and general good guy passed away May 11, losing his battle with cancer. Stan was 79, but if cancer hadn’t taken him he would have lived to be 150. He had the energy and inquisitiveness of a young man and quietly went about the business of helping others less fortunate with no fanfare or desire for even a pat on the back.

Stan was born in a small town in North Dakota in 1930 and at age 18 left home and drove to California with his brother where he would begin his adult life by joining the U.S. Navy. Following service, in the post WWII boom years, in the early 1950s, Hanson recognized opportunities in Orange County specifically in engineering and in the evolving aerospace industry, which would lead him into a lifelong career that included the founding of AcrA Aerospace Corporation in the 1980s. He would also become a successful real estate developer investing in commercial and industrial properties throughout the region.

Hanson would marry and have two sons. His oldest child Stanley Erick Hanson Jr. would die at 18, but his younger son, David Hanson, survived his dad, with whom he shared a very close relationship, including living next door throughout his adult years in Corona del Mar.

Following his marriage, Stan would meet a young and beautiful European-born woman named Eve Kornyei in the 1970s. Their friendship would grow into romance and an inseparable relationship would bond the two together for the next 30 years.

Eve was a school teacher and in many ways brought opposite intellectual and cultural values to Stan’s life, and in so doing each of them completed one another. Eve was the social activist, introducing Stan to a world of philanthropic opportunity that he might have never known. And even through he was a man’s man who was slightly uncomfortable at all the black-tie parties and social gatherings that became part of their life together, Stan knew that what really mattered was the fact that all of these social folks were writing checks that in some way were helping people who really needed some assistance.

On many occasions over the last 20 years I would get a kick out of talking with Stan or getting the chance to sit with Eve and Stan at any number of events. He would give that “look,” without saying one word, that meant unquestionably, “Can you believe this one?” I knew that look and I would laugh, and Stan would laugh, and Eve would tell us both to be quiet and mind our business and remember that what really mattered was the cause, not the hoopla.

But the hoopla was a lot of fun, and Eve made sure that there was plenty of hoopla in their life. She got Stan involved in a number of organizations, most notably including Christina Nobel Children’s Foundation, Orangewood Children’s Home, Laura’s House, Dream Catcher, Girls Inc., the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and the Children’s Bureau of Southern California.

On an international scale, Eve and Stan became involved in two additional organizations, the first called the Todd Anglin Home for Children in South America and the second the Survivor Mitzvah Project in Europe. Few of their local community friends knew of the extent of the involvement the pair had, both financially and personally, in assisting countless anonymous victims of horrific abuse ranging from the atrocities of war to personal family tragedies to poverty, hunger and sickness.

In the two months since Stan’s passing, his life has been remembered and his character has been honored at several gatherings.

Most notably the Children’s Bureau of Southern California held its annual meeting of the Orange County Division Board at the Island Hotel, Newport Beach, honoring Eve Kornyei and presenting her with the John and Donna Crean Legacy for Children Award.

Eve dedicated the honor to Stan, telling the crowd, “He was a remarkable man, the love of my life and a man of character and generosity when it came to helping children,” Eve continued, “The first thing Stan would say when he saw a need, especially with children, was ‘What can we do to help right now?’ ”

Kornyei, holding back tears, asked the crowd to remember Stan by continuing to help the children assisted by the Bureau.

“The children are what matters. Helping them is Stan’s legacy. He didn’t care about the parties, he cared about the kids,” she said.

The Children’s Bureau bestowed their “Promise for the Future” award upon Stan Hanson and his corporation AcrA Aerospace. Marty Michael, president of AcrA Aerospace, accepted the award on Stan’s behalf and shared the podium with other Children’s Bureau honorees including Mike and Janey Walker, and Patrick Yrarrazaval-Correa.

The Children’s Bureau, now more than 100 years old, is one of the region’s most important child-abuse-prevention and treatment-service agencies. The bureau operates nine family resource centers in Orange County, serving more than 7,000 families every year.

Recently, Stan Hanson was once again remembered at the 12th annual Crean Clambake and Rockin’ Lobster Bash dedicated to his memory and held at Shady Canyon Golf Club, attracting a crowd of nearly 400 donors and friends. Attending the evening and remembering Stan along with Eve Kornyei were Kelly Crean, Beth Shields, Barbara Venezia, Alex Morales, Steve Bond, Yolanda de la Paz, Leslie and Lawrence Cancellieri, Patti and Jim Edwards, Fran and Cash Cashen, Sarah and Michael Corrigan, and Holly and Mark Kerslake.

Possibly the most difficult task in life is coming to terms with the death of a loved one. It has been said that “time heals all wounds.” Unfortunately, time only offers distance, it doe not necessarily heal. Over centuries of human experience, mankind has learned much about life yet nothing about death.

It remains the ultimate mystery. We hold on to hope, and embrace the memories of those we have loved and lost and pray for peace in both this life and in whatever, if anything, may follow.

Good deeds in life do resonate and affect humanity beyond the finite years that we all face.

Stan Hanson’s deeds touched many lives, many people who will never know the character of the man. His beloved Eve will carry on his legacy and his mission as will his son David. He was a man who used his talent and success in life to make a difference and to leave a positive mark on the map of the human condition.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.