Memorial Mass Set for Bill Hansell, Former Lehigh County Executive [Obituary]

William Howard Hansell, Jr., March 9, 1937 - June 4, 2013.

With heavy hearts but beautiful memories of a life well lived, we mourn the passing of our husband, father, brother, grandfather, colleague and friend William Howard Hansell, Jr. of Lower Macungie Township who passed peacefully into the loving arms of his Savior on June 4, 2013 after a brief but courageous battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Born in Philadelphia on March 9, 1937, Bill was the son of a Philadelphia firefighter and a devoted, loving mother who taught him from an early age that he could accomplish anything he set his mind to with hard work and dedication.

A proud graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Bill held a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School (1959) and a Master of Governmental Administration from the Fels Institute (1972).

Bills 52-year career was devoted to public service and to building communities where people could live and flourish. He served as a local government manager in Catasauqua, South Whitehall Township and as Business Administrator for the City of Allentown.

He also served as Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Municipal League. Bill taught courses on local government as Vice-President for Business Management at the University of Scranton and Director of the Management Studies Program at Cedar Crest College.

The pinnacle of his professional career was his 20-year service as Executive Director for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in Washington, DC. Even in retirement, Bill continued to support local government as a consultant, a Lehigh County Commissioner, and most recently as Lehigh County Executive.

Through ICMA, Bill had the opportunity to travel extensively and to work with local government managers on the shared goal of strengthening and building communities. Bill launched the ICMA University dedicated to advancing the profession through learning and skills enhancement. He expanded programs through affiliations with 16 international associations. Bill was instrumental in developing the Center for Public Administration Service Partnership and started a tradition of exhibiting artwork donated by host cities of the annual ICMA Conference.

While at ICMA, he met several Presidents and numerous Heads of State. One of the highlights of his life was meeting Nelson Mandela whom he considered to be one of the greatest leaders of the 21st century.

Bill was a wonderful teacher, mentor and friend. He took tremendous care and compassion in his relationships with people. He always looked for ways to find shared connections, to sit and have a good chat, to provide guidance to friends and colleagues alike.

Bill was an avid golfer who famously achieved a hole-in-one in 2005 after countless hooks and slices. An enthusiastic fan of his hometown sports teams, Bill was bigger than life and his booming voice and hearty laughter lingered in a room long after he left.

A dedicated advocate for the arts in all of the communities in which he lived and worked, Bill served on the Boards of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the Allentown Symphony Association, the Lehigh County Historical Society, the Pennsylvania Stage Company and the Arlington County Commission for the Arts.

He and his wife, Connie, were also the owners of Hansell Enterprises and producers of the Shepherd Hills Dinner Theatre where they produced a year-round season of productions for seven years. In addition to his role as MC, he performed in many productions.

Bill is the recipient of numerous awards including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute, the Distinguished Service Award from the International City/County Management Association, and the Public Administrator of the Year from Brigham Young University.

He was extremely proud of his year-long service as President of the National Newman Club Federation. He was also a Trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation and a Board member of the National Academy of Public Administration. 

Survivors: Bill is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Concetta Connie (Raiti) Hansell, his son William Howard Hansell III, his daughter Jeanne Hansell Robertson and son-in-law Michael Decatur Robertson, daughter-in-law Ursula Grogan; grandchildren Katharine Leigh Robertson, William Howard Hansell IV, Lauren Grace Robertson, and Connor Michael Robertson; brothers and sisters in law, David and Susanne Hansell, Raymond and Mary Sue Hansell, Frank and Stephanie Raiti, and Joseph Raiti; nieces and nephews Jennifer and Christopher Conn, David and Nora Hansell, Gregory and Samantha Hansell, Christina and Franco Corrado, Dr. Natalie Hansell and Brian Sheridan, Jonathan and WenXia Raiti, Lisa Raiti Bousquet, Dr. Jessica Green and Matt Smith, and Ryan Green and Sara Lydon. 

He was predeceased by his parents Alice and Bill Hansell, his father-in-law Joseph Raiti, and his sister-in-law Marie Green. 

Services: A Memorial Mass to celebrate Bill's life will be held at 11a.m. Friday, July 26, 2013 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown. 

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bill's name to any of the following organizations: ICMA Hansell Fund to provide scholarships for professional development (checks can be made out to the ICMA Fund with in memory of Bill Hansell in the memo line), 777 N. Capitol St, NE, Washington, DC 20002, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202), or to a charity of your choice .

Arrangements by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown,www.jsburkholder.com.