Obit: Warren T Hanna Sr

Boston Herald, Boston, Ma. June 26, 2007

Warren T Hannah Sr of Framingham, 87, business owner, vet

Warren T "Ward" Hanna Sr of Framingham, a business owner and World War II veteran, died Thursday at his home. He was 87.

orn in Natick, Mr Hanna was a graduate of Natick High School, where he was the captain of the footall and gold teams. He was also a member of the hockey team and served as a swimming instructor for the Red Cross. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design.

After graduation, Mr Hanna joined the Parachute Infantry and served at the parachute jump instructors' school at Fort Benning, Ga. He served with the 50 11th Airborne group immortalized in Stephen E Ambrose's book and HBO television series "Band Of Brothers." While in the airborne group, he tested and created different techniques on various parachute drop methods. He procured a patent for a quick-release device for use on parachute harnesses to allow the wearer to release their harness when hung up on trees.

After his military service, he founded the Worcester Air Conditioning Co in 1960. In 1986, he founded the Hard of Hearing Advocates, a non-profit designed to provide advocacy for hard-of-hearing people.

Mr Hanna is survived by his wife, H Patricia (Kincade); three sons, Warren Thomas Jr of Sherborn, Dana of Northboro and Gary of Del Ray Beach, Fla; and two grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11am today in St Bridget's Church, Framingham.

Arrangements y John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, Natick