Foreign Car Enthusiast and Former President of the Field Eddy & Bulkley Insurance Agency of Springfield
Henry (Hank) Francis Hanmer of Suffield, CT formerly of Hampden, MA, exited the road of life on November 3, 2024, at the age of 97, surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of the late Irene (Baush) and H. Francis Hanmer of Wethersfield, CT. Born in 1927 in Hartford, CT, Henry grew up in Wethersfield where Hanmers had lived since the early 1700s.
A long-time foreign car enthusiast, Henry perused car magazines and reviews well into his nineties looking for his next set of wheels. He drove an Alfa Romeo Stelvio in his last years, finding it easier to get in and out of than his Porsche Cayman, which he drove through his eighties.
Over the years, Henry owned and tinkered with a variety of vintage foreign cars, including a 1934 Alvis Speed 20, a 1956 Alvis Gray Lady, a 1957 Alfa Romeo Spider, and a 1972 Porsche 911. Henry’s most prized auto was a 1961 Porsche 356 Super 90 – a gem of a car that he and his wife Judy drove to TYP356 Porsche Club outings where they developed many lasting friendships. His interest in unusual automobiles provided opportunities to travel throughout the U.S., South America, and Europe. He was a long-time member of the Alvis, Alfa Romeo, BMW, and Porsche Car Clubs.
Henry did nothing half-way. “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right,” was a refrain that summarized his life. Beyond his interest in foreign cars, he embraced the now-popular farm-to-table mindset with his idea of a gentleman’s farm – twenty 100-foot rows of vegetables, plus strawberry and potato patches and several fruit trees to feed the family through the winter, with some extras for the skunks and raccoons living in the nearby woods because, “they have to eat, too.” To complete the farm, Henry bought a John Deere tractor and built a barn, which prompted at one time or another a small flock of sheep, a horse, a goat, some chickens, and a few geese.
Henry and Judy traveled widely. Remembering a favorite trip to Germany, Henry built a scale HO model railroad, recreating a typical countryside scene by laying tracks that ran through a mountain village with a few of his favorite things: a café, a farm, and a Porsche dealership. In his later years, Henry became an avid UCONN Women’s Basketball fan. He watched nearly every game from the comfort of his cushioned den chair with his wife Judy, a bowl of popcorn, and his long-haired, miniature dachshund, Lili, at his feet.
A World War II veteran, Henry joined the U.S. Coast Guard – the “Fighting Coasties” – when he was 18. Eventually stationed on Guam, Henry was responsible for maintaining the fleet of vehicles at the base. His drive to do things right led him to become a successful business leader. After his honorable discharge from the Coast Guard, he graduated from the University of Connecticut and entered the insurance industry where he spent his working years, ultimately becoming president of the Field Eddy & Bulkley insurance agency in Springfield, MA. Henry was active in many civic activities and social clubs, including the Kiwanis Club of Springfield, the Melha Shrine of Springfield, the Century Club, the Longmeadow Country Club, the Lake Region Country Club of Winter Haven, FL, and the Suffield Country Club. He was very active with the Springfield Y.M.C.A., eventually becoming its Board President and even accompanying one or more of his children on Y hiking trips in the White Mountains.
While his professional accomplishments are many, his family and friends will remember him mostly for his wry sense of humor, supportive straight talk, and sharp intelligence. Henry was an avid reader of U.S. history and a lifelong learner. He set an example for honest work, fun, healthy living, and having an open mind toward people and cultures. His wife, children, family, and friends know they are blessed that Henry lived a long, happy life with them, and they will dearly miss him.
Henry leaves his wife of 70 years, Judith (Judy) Rush Hanmer, his children Elizabeth H. Snyder, Alfred W. Hanmer and his wife Lisa, Susan H. Farina and her husband Dino, and Samuel R. Hanmer and his partner Susan Gardini, 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 6 nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his sister, Marilyn. Henry also leaves his mischievous doppelganger, Bruce Westercamp.
