“I was born, I lived, I worked, I played, I loved, I cried, I laughed, I died” 

“I may not be perfect, but I did my very best”

— Bobby Hanna

Robert ‘Bob’ Alan Hanna, 70, died peacefully at his home on October 18, 2026. He was born to Duke Ellsworth Hanna III and Eleanor Jane Myron Hanna on June 8, 1956, in Indianapolis. Within months, the family, including sisters Anita Hanna Fullbright and Cheryl Hanna-Truscott, moved to California. From then on, Bob remained a lifelong resident of California.

Bob had a more difficult life journey than many of us, born autistic and developmentally challenged in an era with little knowledge or resources devoted to therapeutic interventions. He was lucky in that his resourceful parents sought the best care for him within the limits of his era’s understanding. Since public education for developmentally challenged students was unavailable, his education was bolstered by pioneering private schools, including the Switzer Center, Dubnoff School, and Wallace Village for Children.

Bob’s contributions were notable given his significant neurodiversity. After finishing his formal, life-skills education in Santa Barbara under The Work-Training Program, he bicycled from his supervised apartment to his volunteer job at the Santa Barbara Zoo where he spent three hours each workday picking up trash and socializing during the lunch hour with staff.  A well-attended retirement party celebrated his remarkable 20 years of dedicated service. 

Two decades ago, after retiring from the zoo and when his parents could no longer supervise his complicated care needs, Bob moved to Humboldt County, where his sister Anita could manage his care.  Anita, her late husband Carl, and their daughters and grandchildren provided a network of love and support, along with professional caregivers. 

Bob made friends everywhere he went.  He would ask a new person their “first, PLUS last, PLUS middle name” as he stood about a foot away.  People reacted with kindness and interest.  In his younger years, if you wanted to know the day of the week that a particular date in history fell upon, he could tell you with rapid and uncanny accuracy. He loved making jokes by rephrasing sentences using opposites: “good day” became “bad night’” and “green ketchup, black mayonnaise.”  

Bob was known for his knowledge of music, sometimes communicating using song lyrics from 1960s rock music, and had particular affection for Beach Boys songs. A die-hard Twilight Zone aficionado, Bob looked forward to marathon watching on special t life (and life after death), so we told him that he would have to ask God when he got to Heaven. We suspect God will be very busy answering Bob’s questions for a while!  Bob looked forward to being reunited with his beloved parents. Family and many 24/7caregivers supported him during his last weeks, including his nephew, Brian, who managed his hospital and hospice care, and his niece, Monika Luise Wissel, who held him as he breathed his last breath. 

Bob was fortunate to have opportunities for personal growth and a welcoming place to go for holiday celebrations. A good life by many measures.

We would like to extend our gratitude for the support afforded by numerous caring people, especially Stephanie Hughes, who was his friend and support right up to the end, and organizations in Humboldt County: the Sequoia Center until it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Humboldt Community Access & Resource Center (HCAR), Redwood Coast Regional Center, Open Door Community Health Center, and Special Olympics. 

Bob is survived by his two sisters, seven nieces and nephews and their large extended families who will celebrate his life in a private ceremony at Goble’s Mortuary. He will be interred at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna alongside his parents.  In lieu of flowers, donations to www.HCARCenter.org/donate www.SpecialOlympics.org/ or to a charity of your choice would be welcomed.holidays. He was involved in making ceramic art at The Studio, stamping phrases into clay slabs that his family called “Bobisms”  (A favorite was “I love to laugh”). He participated in several group shows with his Bobisms at the Cheri Blackerby Gallery (now the Portfolio Gallery).

Bob’s health rapidly deteriorated at the beginning of October.  Cerebral vascular disease and pneumonia ended his life.  All through his life, Bob had many questions that we couldn’t answer about life (and life after death), so we told him that he would have to ask God when he got to Heaven. We suspect God will be very busy answering Bob’s questions for a while!  Bob looked forward to being reunited with his beloved parents. Family and many 24/7caregivers supported him during his last weeks, including his nephew, Brian, who managed his hospital and hospice care, and his niece, Monika Luise Wissel, who held him as he breathed his last breath. 

Bob was fortunate to have opportunities for personal growth and a welcoming place to go for holiday celebrations. A good life by many measures.

We would like to extend our gratitude for the support afforded by numerous caring people, especially Stephanie Hughes, who was his friend and support right up to the end, and organizations in Humboldt County: the Sequoia Center until it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Humboldt Community Access & Resource Center (HCAR), Redwood Coast Regional Center, Open Door Community Health Center, and Special Olympics. 

Bob is survived by his two sisters, seven nieces and nephews and their large extended families who will celebrate his life in a private ceremony at Goble’s Mortuary. He will be interred at Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna alongside his parents.  In lieu of flowers, donations to HCAR, Special Olympics or to a charity of your choice would be welcomed.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bob Hanna’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.