Andrew John “Andy” Hanzel, 76, passed away quietly at home in Northville, MI on Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 after a brief illness. Andy was beloved father of Hillary Hanzel (Paul Stewart) and Avrille Hanzel (Scott Ham), both of Ann Arbor, MI; loving brother of Sandra Hanzel (Blanca Viveros) of Glade Park, CO and Gary (Karen) Hanzel of Steubenville, OH; and cherished grandfather and “Papa” to Calvin and Hunter Stewart. Andy is also survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Tanya Hanzel, and his loyal dog, Chili. Andy was predeceased by his parents Andrew Hanzel Sr. and Anne (Krinov) Hanzel; and last year by his brother, Ronald (Karen) Hanzel.
Born on January 14, 1948, in Cleveland, OH, Andy attended primary school at Ridge Road School in Parma, OH and then Schaaf Junior High School, before enrolling at Parma High School where he graduated in 1966. In high school, he attended the Beatles’ 1964 concert in Cleveland, OH and was a superfan for the remainder of his life. When a high school friend won a contest to meet the Beatles, she brought a painting of Andy’s with her and had it autographed by the group, becoming one of his most treasured possessions. Andy was also an original member and lead singer of the popular local band, Penny Arcade. They performed many concerts in the Cleveland area, but a highlight was opening for Cream on May 11, 1968, at the Agora club. He received a scholarship to attend the Cleveland Institute of Arts where he majored in Industrial Design with a minor in Art History. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1971.
He spent his career at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, MI, where he worked as an automotive designer. He worked for numerous years in Oldsmobile and contributed to the 1986 Oldsmobile Toronado as well as many other models. His most significant production contribution was the 1995 Buick Riviera, developed in collaboration with Eric Clough. His early career led him to England where he worked at Vauxhall Motors, minting him an anglophile for life. In the latter part of his career, he traveled extensively on behalf of GM to California, Europe, and China. He finished his career as a Manager in the Advanced Brands Studio and was involved in advanced design projects and several concept cars. He taught as an adjunct professor of Transportation Design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, and after retiring from GM, was a Professor of Industrial/Product Design at Lawrence Technological University where he is remembered for his human-centric design approach. Through his innovative design work at GM, he also holds 13 patents, including designs for a multi-functional automotive fastener system and tailgate apparatus.
He faithfully restored two historic Greek Revival homes in Romeo, MI where he lived with his family. His life’s work centered on restoring the 1858 Ashael Bailey House, which he had moved to save from demolition. To Andy, who moved three buildings in his lifetime, the location of real estate was never a constraint.
He is remembered as an eccentric renaissance man of wide-ranging interests and talents. Andy was an exceptional artist and designer, known for comedic caricatures and his expressive sketches, but was most prolific painting in oils. He was an aesthete and collector of antiques, fine art, British cars, and many unique hats. He leaves behind his beloved 1949 MG-TC, 1966 Austin Healey, and 1969 MG-BGT. An avid reader and intellectual, he loved studying and conversing on philosophy, politics, and early American history, especially the founding fathers. Known for his wit, humor, and antics, he had a larger-than-life personality and hosted many amusing parties during the Romeo Peach Festival, where bagpipers would gather at his home for a performance at the conclusion of the parade. He fought hard and won an incredibly difficult battle with cancer in midlife. He enjoyed several decades cancer-free, remaining forever grateful to Henry Ford Health for having saved his life.
Andy was known as a bon vivant and connoisseur of fine food and cheese, who sparkled in the company of his many friends and acquaintances, including the “Miserable and Grumpys” (MG), the Michigan Chapter of the New England MG ‘T’ Register of which he was a past president, and his friends from GM Design, Cleveland Institute of Art, Ohio, as well as those in England and abroad. He loved traveling abroad but also cherished memories from summers spent with his extended family and friends at Elk Lake, MI. Most of all, he treasured being “Papa” to his beloved grandsons with whom he delighted in collaborating on construction of a fairy house and sharing his love of art and cars.
Any contributions to honor his life may be made to National Public Radio in Washington, D.C., to Detroit PBS, or to the Cleveland Institute of Art.
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