Sad news WH

On Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 9:00:05 AM UTC-4, Scott Calvert wrote:
Yesterday we lost WH. RIP Bill!

It took a few days to gather my thoughts.
Bill came back to soaring a few years ago, having soloed as teenager, then going on to a career and raising a big family. Along the way he was a world class kayaking competitor.
He got back into soaring with great enthusiasm, completing his diamond badge in just a few years.
Bill got into competition with mixed results, but always having a great deal of fun. He was partners in a 2 place self launching glider that was purchase mostly so Nancy could share the experience. She became a pretty good tactician.
As a member of the Valley Soaring Club he was always available to help and served as treasurer and valued expert and adviser.
Bill gobbled up life in huge bites, always with cheerful,happy smile.
We will miss him terribly.
UH

I didn't know Bill Hanson as well as many. I met him a few years ago at Wurtsboro at the regional and encountered him numerous times after that, in the air and on the ground with Nancy. What struck me about him was the absence of drama and conceit. Bill seemed to be there to fly as well as he could but to enjoy it no matter what. He was a solid pilot but he didn't seem to be bothered when he had a bad day. Neither did he grow boisterous and effusive when he had a good day. I didn't even realize he had a new glider (the LAK-17 FES) this spring for a while. He didn't show it off or comment "casually" about how cool it was. He just came to fly, as usual, quietly and confidently sure of himself.

I appreciated that Bill reached out to me several times, knowing that despite having flown in the area for many years, I'm not as familiar with the clubs anymore. One of my best memories is a small thing: I was flying up the valley out of Blairstown this spring and he and another pilot were ahead and higher. I was low man and getting a little uncomfortable when I realized they both had engines ("hypothetically, guys, which side of the river is it that I shouldn't land on?"). WH saw me down below and talked me into his thermal. Again, no drama.

Our measure of someone is often evident in the comments made about them when they pass. In this, Bill gets high marks. I'm sorry I didn't know him better but I, too, will miss him.

Chip Bearden
JB

I wish I could quote you and Hank...
Yes, Bill was "low time" in sailplanes, but not stupid.
He pushed, but always left generous margins from what I saw.
He did quite a few contests as well as Soaring sofiris (