Ronald W. Hanson

Ronald W. Hanson

1938 - 2025

Ronald W. Hanson, a retired police officer of the Town of Wakefield, Massachusetts, passed away on March 18, 2025, due to complications from COVID.

Ron played hockey for Wakefield High School and graduated in 1957, and after a short time joined the U.S. Navy. He was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. SARATOGA, CVA-60, in the eastern Mediterranean. Next, he transferred to the U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE, CVA-62 to complete his active duty. Ron later attended Northeastern University where he obtained his bachelor’s degree.

Ron and his former wife Barbara (Haladay) Hanson raised their two sons, Kevin and Scott in the Greenwood neighborhood of Wakefield. Ron was very active in the community and spent many years coaching the Wakefield Youth Hockey PeeWee B Team. A favorite memory is how he took the team on an “unsanctioned” trip to play at West Point and magically “the jerseys” appeared in the locker room.

Many years later Ron was invited to go on a blind date, and surprised when it was a former girlfriend from Melrose, Rosemary Donahue. They eventually got married and resided in Westford until her passing.

At an early age Ron had a passion for cars, and this continued throughout his life. His lifelong dream was to build a 1933 Ford coupe, and he decided to start the project on his 80th birthday. This car became his pride and joy, it’s painted canary yellow which he dubbed “Tweety Bird on Steroids”.

Ron is survived by his son Scott and his wife Kathy, of Jefferson, NH., his granddaughter Nicole Douglass, her husband Will and his great granddaughter Lola of Conway, NH, his brother Rick and his wife Martha of Hollis, NH, his sister Charlene Cole of Salem, NH and his friend and companion Linda Smalley of Whitefield, NH.

He is also survived by his niece Dr. Ellen Hanson and her husband Jamie Hawes, his nephew Jeff Cole and his wife Margaret . He was predeceased by his son Kevin, his older brother Bob, his nephew Eric, as well as his parents, Harold and Iris Hanson.

There will be a family celebration of life at a later date.