Vernon "Lee" Hansen

Funeral services for Vernon “Lee” Hansen, age 72 of 302 Proctor Avenue, Ogdensburg will be held on Sunday (December 18, 2016) at 5:00pm at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home with Rev. F. James Shurtleff officiating. Calling hours will be held also on Sunday from 2:00pm until the time of the service at the funeral home. Lee passed away unexpectedly on December 15, 2016. His wife of nearly 53 years, Patricia Lynn (O’Brien) Hansen was by his side.

In addition to his wife Pat, Lee is survived by son Jeffrey of Utica, NY and his children Sara, Nick and Carter; son and daughter-in-law Brian and Kaelene of New Hartford, NY and their children Tyler, Connor and Michael; son Michael of Spring City, PA and his children Matthew, Morgan, Riley and Payton; son Todd of Norwich, NY and his children Taylor and Abigail; and son and daughter-in-law Scott and Andrea of Wheat Ridge, CO. He is also survived by sister-in-law Carol (O’Brien) Bloomer and her husband William of Prospect, NY and their children Kara, Kristy and Patrick; sister-in-law Julie O’Brien of Boonville, NY and her son Doug Hughes; an aunt Barbara (Hansen) Schmeichel of Freeman, SD; and numerous other cousins including maternal cousin Carol (Ward) Cameron. In addition to his parents, Lee is predeceased by his grandparents Harry and Charlotte Marinos and Edward and Carolyn Hansen, his mother-in-law Carolyn and fathers-in-law Edward Caul and Edward O’Brien, and brother-in-law Michael O’Brien.

He was born in Ithaca, NY on January 27, 1944, to Kenneth and Francis (Marinos) Hansen. He graduated from Ithaca High School in 1961 and SUNY Potsdam in 1968 with a graduate degree in history and education, before moving to Ogdensburg, NY in 1970, where he resided since.

Lee taught history at Ogdensburg Free Academy for 33 years before retiring in June of 2001. He coached numerous high school and youth sports, including Varsity and JV football, JV baseball and minor hockey, and was a high school basketball referee for many years. He served or was a member of various groups, including the Ogdensburg Education Association (president), the Ogdensburg Elks Club, Notre Dame Church and the St. Lawrence Valley SPCA. In addition to playing football, basketball and baseball in high school and college, Lee also played men’s softball and golf in Ogdensburg with many dear friends.

Lee’s dogs had become his defacto children over the past several years, and was one of the SPCA’s most dedicated volunteer dog walkers. But beyond all the standard son, husband, father, grandfather attributes applicable to Lee’s life, he was first and foremost a teacher/coach. He never differentiated between the classroom and the playing field, as both were opportunities to reach the minds and bodies of those under his watch. While his 12-granchild “classroom” was much smaller following retirement, Lee’s passion for education never dulled, and will be his legacy.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Lawrence County SPCA, 6718 SH 68, Ogdensburg, NY 13669; Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, US Hwy 11, Potsdam, NY 13617 or The Hearing Loss Association of America, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda MD 20814. Condolences can also be shared online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com.