Hassan, W. Richard (1921-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 May 11 p. 9

Birth date: 1921 Jul 10

text of obituary:

W. RICHARD HASSAN

W. Richard Hassan, 87, of Goshen, Ind., died April 28, 2009, at Greencroft Health Care. William Richard Hassan (Dick) was born on July 10, 1921, to Clair and Bertha (Franz) Hassan in Middlebury.

On June 18, 1960, he married Hazel Nice at Morrison, Ill. She survives.

He attended Goshen College, Northwestern University’s School of Journalism, Ball State University and Purdue University. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University and taught social studies in several area schools. He later worked in student personnel services at Purdue University and was a head resident at Illinois State University in Normal. From 1965 to 1967, he served as dean of students at Huntington College. After moving to Rockford, Ill., in 1967, he worked as a secondary guidance counselor at Harlem High School until his retirement in 1981. He was deeply interested in the history of his hometown of Middlebury and did extensive research about the community. He wrote several pieces about Middlebury’s historic landmarks. He was the first editor of Mennonite Heritage, a quarterly publication of Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society, from 1974 to 1988, and also wrote some of the articles. He served on the finance committee of Illinois Mennonite Conference and on the MCC Great Lakes Committee. He was a member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen. He enjoyed spectator sports.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Kent Hassan, and a sister, Roberta Jackson LeFevre.

A memorial service was held at College Mennonite Church. Burial was at Grace Lawn Cemetery at Middlebury.