Memories of Jeannine

Coming to Penn State University I got to know Jeannine some time in 1962-1963. Through our shared interests in art and music, enjoying the outdoors, and interests in understanding and exploring nature we became friends. Balancing the pressures of my science graduate studies I visited Jeannine and Bill or we went out for walks. It was a perfect way for me to relax and a balance for all of us through sharing our thoughts about the arts and science, almost always surrounded by music in the background. Often Jeannine also became a magician who in a short time could create a nutritious and tasty snack or a whole meal for us.

Coming to their home it would not be surprising to hear a kaleidoscope of music from the anticipated classical selections to all kinds of international music, new popular songs, or Jazz, either on the radio or on their recordings. To my amazement, Jeannine had a knack for picking out new popular songs that became hit songs or dances for the young at heart in time. Bill enjoyed putting together advanced music systems for superior sound around the house. Thus, their first and second homes in State College were always filled with a great variety of music. Our friendship continued, even when our lives separated and I left Penn State to continue with my career.

Jeannine had a deep interest in life, art, and nature. This continued in recent years when she was in hospital for many weeks from a fall. We spoke often on the telephone during which she asked me to keep sending newspaper clippings and magazine articles of interest to her about music, philosophy, science, anything about nature, poets, and artists. She read them, and we discussed the topics to our hearts content by telephone. We continued doing this until she she returned home. I never saw her without enthusiasm and excitement about something new to see and experience.

When she needed a helping hand she was unafraid to ask the postman, a repairman, or a neighbor for help. With her charm and humor, who could refuse? She was so good with words. She was a cheerful person with a mischievous humor, and she enjoyed making people laugh with wordplay and comical observations of the moment, anybody she came in contact with, from nurses to doctors to sales people. We often laughed together about her unusual but gentle observations about people. After one of her surgeries in State College, the staff of the rehabilitation center was pleased to have their picture taking with this extraordinarily sunny person. I never saw her low-spirited, even in disappointing or stressful situations, and wondered where she found this energy.

Jeannine was a bright light in Bill’s life, and her good humor, reliable practical sense, and adventurous creativity, together with her musicianship was infectious. It rubbed off on me and many others who met her and experienced her bright spirit to become life-long friends with her. Her wide - ranging imagination together with her generous humor amazed me. Jeannine’s cheerful attitude no doubt balanced Bill’s sometimes more serious or pessimistic outlook.

Her spirit sought to be out in nature, in the forests of Maine and Pennsylvania, and to partake of the beauty all around opened minds and senses too of those of us spending time with her. One couldn’t help it. It was contagious. No matter what subject we broached, I would learn something, and we would learn from each other. The three of us, Jeannine, Bill, and I would end up in amazing discussions on all kinds of topics, sometimes late into the evenings with rewards for all of us. She and Bill were committed to conservation (Bill accomplished the protection of Maine’s historic Turtle Island from logging and destruction,1965). Somehow, the worlds of art, philosophy, and science came together, for which Jeannine and Bill possessed a wealth of information. Both wrote poetry too. Their art and music library was enormous, and what other artist’s home had a subscription to a Science News Magazine?

Once, another fellow graduate student and friend of our's, Jack Schmidt, and I visited Jeannine and Bill during the summer in Maine, their earthly paradise near Acadia National Park. With their rented house in view of the water, she invited us to come with her and go swimming. When we got to the water, Jeannine just walked into the waves and began swimming. Astounding. This was the cold Atlantic in Maine. It took me long to finally walk deeper into the water. I don’t recall for sure ever getting in deeper and swimming. While Bill was painting, Jeannine, Jack, and I went out to pick blueberries in the coastal woods. Then, Jeannine made blueberry pancakes for us, so delicious that I will never forget that time eating those perfectly juicy, tasty blue berry pancakes. As we were biting into them, the berry juice sprayed all over us. Now I understood why Jeannine had the foresight to hand each of us a towel to cover our chests. Our teeth, lips and tongue turned a deep purple to have us all laughing, looking at and seeing each other, with juice spots all over. One can see that red-purple juice color in several of Bill’s paintings and prints.

Jeannine was older than I, and her knowledge from her life’s experiences frequently taught me important lessons or presented me with new insights. This continued even years later to recent times. Her easy ability to consider a different perspective, crowned by her optimistic humor was powerful. Her sunny disposition was infectious.

My sister Eva, also an artist, living in Belmont, MA, knew of Jeannine from my numerous references of the Hansons. I had wanted her to see more of Bill’s work to explain why it spoke to me so deeply. When he was alive, he and Jeannine could explain to me their associations with what they saw and experienced and how that resulted in that particular painting or poem. We traveled to Maine to see Jeannine in their last Maine gallery and the living and gallery space she and Bill had shared in Ellsworth during their last years together. Bill’s sister, Kathy, and her husband, Ed, were visiting as well.

Jeannine could quickly take the measure of another person and immediately took a liking to Eva. Never shy, Jeannine, with little fanfare asked Eva to cut her hair, which Eva gladly did. We had a lovely, enriching time together. Unfortunately, we could only stay for a few days. Still, instead of having us spending more time with her, she wanted to make sure that we got to see Mt Desert Island, which she and Bill knew so well and loved. She pointed out the areas that meant so much to her and Bill and wanted us to see them.

After not seeing each other for many years our parting was difficult and no doubt bittersweet for Jeannine. Before we drove away in the dark, I saw her standing by the door, looking out. It was a tough moment for all of us. Walking to the car, I turned around and, seeing her, took her photo. I pointed to her red umbrella by the door, and she, a photographer herself, knew immediately what I had in mind.

I am grateful to have known Jeannine and Bill. They made my life so much richer. I miss Jeannine’s genius for spreading joy and her enthusiasm for exploring new things. Jeannine will always be in my heart.

I will miss Jeannine’s wonderful sense of humor and incredible zest for life. She found humor in many small things overlooked in today’s fast technological world.

She had a special name and rhyme for many of the people she knew. She would say it helped her remember their names but I believe she just liked making people laugh and smile with her stories of them. She greatly enjoyed connecting with others, especially younger students and continued to learn on her “We Phone” until she had to abandon it due to her eyes failing her.

Jeannine worked to overcome her limitations until the very end. She did weight lifting daily and always believed her dedicated hard work would get her to where she wanted to be. She was a hard working optimist and kind soul. I will miss her。