Remembering family and friends
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Stanley A. Hanna
WEST PALM BEACH Stanley A. Hanna passed away peacefully Friday, May 5th, 2017 at Morse Life Healthcare, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Born on March 8th, 1931 in So. Hartford, New York, Stan was the son of late Floyd and Mae (Burch) Hanna. He was a 1949 graduate of Hartford Central School where he played varsity basketball, baseball, and soccer. Stan was exceptionally book smart and an avid lover of music. He enjoyed reading and learning about any subject from John Grisham novels to technical manuals.
Stan proudly served in the NYS National Guard for 20 years, rising from private to major. He began his career working for General Electric Co. Research and Development Lab in 1951 as an audio technician.
With the inauguration of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in 1966, Stan was asked to assist with the sound at SPAC by Dr. Katherine Rosendall, a director at the GE R&D Center and also a local arts supporter. Stan and his wife, Mary started their own company Specialized Audio House in Ballston Lake, NY working out of their newly renovated basement. Quickly outgrowing that location, they moved their home and business to Saratoga Springs in 1972. The Victorian home served them well as it came with a carriage house and was a perfect location for the business, Specialized Audio, Inc. Sound technology marched forward as did the challenges and the solutions that Stan and Specialized Audio developed. The 60’s and the 70’s were formative years for the sound and entertainment industry and Stan was a pioneer in many ways during this era. Stan never missed a single performance at SPAC from 1966-1987. This included the New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra, Newport Jazz Festival and popular musical artists such as Peter, Paul and Mary, The Fifth Dimension, Neil Diamond, The Doors, Janis Joplin, The Who, Fleetwood Mac and countless others of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. A true perfectionist at heart, He was there to make sure the audience could hear every note whether you were seated first row center, in the rear of the balcony or out on the lawn.
Stan’s talent and vision along with his reputation expanded beyond Saratoga. His company provided sound systems for the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, SC, The Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, Frank Sinatra’s east coast concerts, Bob Hope’s television specials along with the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC. Locally, his clients included General Electric, BSO-Tanglewood, Hunter Mountain Music Festival, Proctors Theatre, Palace Theatre, The Rafters, Sneaky Pete’s, Glens Falls Civic Center and Capital District OTB. He also designed and installed sound systems for numerous churches, synagogues, high school musicals and nightclubs.
In 1985, Stan and Mary entered into an agreement with Michael Cusick, an employee since 1974, originally from Guilderland High School, to purchase Specialized Audio and operate it under the name Specialized Audio-Visual, Inc. SAVI continues the tradition of innovation and excellence started by Stan 51 years ago and serves regional, national and international markets and clients.
In 1988, Stan was semiretired and he and his wife, Mary decided to embark on a new adventure. They moved from Saratoga back to their hometown of So. Hartford, NY where they opened Brown’s Tavern Bed and Breakfast. Together, they lovingly restored their beautiful 1802 colonial and proudly placed it on the New York State and National Register of Historical Places. From May to December for 12 years, they welcomed visitors from near and far to enjoy their home that was once the stagecoach stop for people traveling from Troy, NY to Whitehall and Rutland, VT in the 1800’s. (If only those walls could talk!)
Before making Lake Worth, Florida their permanent home, Stan and Mary took many trips together traveling around Europe and the Caribbean. Amsterdam, Netherlands, Lucerne, Switzerland, Saint Thomas, VI and New Orleans were their favorite destinations.
Stan is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Mary (Bartley) Hanna; his devoted daughter and sonin-law, Elizabeth and Jonathan Kaplan of Niskayuna, his grandchildren, Alexandra Kaplan and Samuel Kaplan, Jason Boswell, Renee Boswell and Millie Boswell, Lonnie Linen and Lander Linen. He is also survived by great grandchildren, Justin Boswell and Jayna Boswell; sisterin-law, Edna Hanna of So. Hartford and sister-in-law, Phyllis Graham of Hudson Falls; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Stan was predeceased by his son, Richard and his wife, Sandra Hanna; his brother Gordon Hanna; his father and mother-in-law, Homer and Louise Bartley; sister-in-law and her husband, Lillian and Bill Miller; and brother-in-law Willard Graham.
A private graveside service will be held at Morningside Cemetery in Hartford, NY. Family and friends are invited to join us for a celebration of Stan’s life at his nephew Mark and his wife, Michelle’s home at 108 Hendee Rd. Hudson Falls, NY on Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 12pm to 2pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Stan’s memory to Brain Support Network PO Box 7264 Menlo Park, California 94026-7264 or www. brainsupportnetwork. org#donate to continue to support vital brain research into Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Arrangements are in the care of M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home 123 Main Street Argyle, NY 12809. To view Stan’s Book of Memories and post online condolences, please visit www.kilmerfuneralhome.com