Ann Harrington Hanson

Ann Harrington Hanson passed away on November 29, 2013 in Potomac, Maryland, after a short battle with cancer. Ann was a resident of Barrington, Rhode Island from 1966 to 2012 and began wintering in Avon Park, Florida in 1995, making it her permanent home in May of 2012.

Ann was born in St. Albans, Vermont on May 10, 1935, the only child of Leroy Edward and Bertha Rebecca (McLea) Harrington. She was raised in St. Albans, graduated from the University of Vermont in 1956 with a BS degree in medical technology, and worked as a medical researcher. In 1958, Ann married Daniel James “Jim” Hanson and left her career to devote herself full time to her children and community service.

Ann was a member of numerous civic organizations, including the local PTA, League of Women Voters, St. Andrews School Corporation, Rhode Island Hospital Corporation, the Women's Guild at St. Luke's Church in Barrington, and Roger Williams Hospital Auxiliary in Providence, Rhode Island. She was also a Girl Scout Leader. Ann was a member of the Barrington Jr. Women's Club from 1965 to 1972 and served on its Board of Directors in 1971. She became a member of the Barrington Chapter of the League of Women Voters in 1971, later serving on its Board of Directors in 1972 and as President from 1973 to 1975.

Ann began her life as a public servant when she was elected to the Barrington Town Council in 1975, serving as Vice President from 1976 to 1978 and President from 1978 to 1980. She was elected to the Rhode Island House of Representatives in 1980 and served there until 1983. Ann was elected to the Rhode Island Senate on June 21, 1983, making her the only woman in the history of the Rhode Island General Assembly to move from the House of Representatives to the Senate in the same term. In 1987, Ann became the Rhode Island Senate’s Minority Whip.

Ann worked passionately on behalf of her Barrington constituents until her retirement in 1993. Throughout her legislative career, she favored such measures as the Bottle Bill, preservation of open spaces, compulsory automobile insurance, reform of workmen's compensation, the "living will", combating child abuse, and increased support for education. Ann was an ardent supporter of women's rights, and worked for the passage of a state equal rights amendment, funding for child daycare, protection of abused wives, equal pay and equal opportunity, and ensuring adequate child support from the divorced spouse.

After politics, her other passions were entertaining and international travel. Ann was an avid reader who was interested in current events, and she enjoyed trips with her family to diverse corners of the world ranging from Alaska to Zimbabwe.

Ann is predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Jim Hanson, and is survived by her daughters, Julie Hanson Swanson and her husband Alan Swanson of Arlington, Virginia; Jennifer Hanson and her husband David VanSpeybroeck of Lake Oswego, Oregon; Rebecca Hanson and her husband Sudhir Rajkumar of Bethesda, Maryland; and Erica Hanson of Washington, DC. She also leaves four granddaughters, Radhika and Indira Rajkumar, and Nina and Madeline VanSpeybroeck; a sister-in-law, Julie Ann Burns and her husband Robert Burns of Milford, New Hampshire; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Ann will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery in the coming months. For information concerning the timing of her funeral service, please contact serviceforannhanson@gmail.com. Condolences to the Hanson Family may also be sent to this e-mail address or in care of Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22203.