Article published Jun 14, 2006 in The Daily Times (Salisbury)

Henry Harlan Hanna Jr.

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- Henry "Buddy" Hanna, business owner and community leader from 1945 until his retirement in 1995, died peacefully at his home in Pompano Beach on Thursday, June 8, 2006, with his wife, Jackie, at his side.

He was born Feb. 21, 1921, in Salisbury to the late Henry H. Hanna and Virginia Lee Perdue Hanna. He was the grandson of the late Dean W. Perdue and Nannie Toadvine Perdue of Salisbury and the late Edwin Fulton Hanna Sr. and Varina Herbert Hanna of Ellicott City, Md. He was also preceded in death by his older brother and sister, Dean Perdue Hanna, who died in infancy, and Virginia Dean Hanna Grady, who died in 1973.

Buddy's father died in an automobile accident when he was only 11 years old. Tragically, his grandfather, Dean Perdue, died within a week and his mother two years later. Buddy and his sister, Virginia Dean, were raised by their grandmother, Nannie Perdue, and great-aunts, Alice and Mary Toadvine.

His early local education included Mrs. Herald's School on North Division Street and the Upton Street School. He then attended The Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., where he played varsity football and track. After graduating from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1939, he attended the University of Virginia before joining the Army to serve in Europe during World War II.

Upon returning home to Salisbury, he started a long career as an entrepreneur and community leader. He began in automobile sales and soon opened a gas station. Buddy then started an insurance agency that grew into what is now the Hanna, Kremer & Tilghman Insurance Company in Salisbury. He later started Hanna Real Estate and began work as a developer. He planned and developed many new-home communities, including Forest Lake Estates, Midvale Manor, Westbury Acres and Covered Bridge, and built the first condominiums in the Salisbury area in 1972. The real estate company evolved into Ahtes, Hanna & McLaughlin Realtors and was purchased by Long and Foster Real Estate in 1991.

Buddy and his good friend, Milford Twilley, started the Wicomico Building Supply Business and later built U.S. Post Office buildings in Ocean City, Fruitland and Delaware. In the 1960s, after the local bus service was abandoned by the government as a financial failure, Buddy and partners, Charles O. Hughes and Gwynne Church, took up the challenge. They ran regular bus service from Salisbury to Delmar, Crisfield and Ocean City. In the late 1960s, he started the Culligan Water Systems Company, providing service to many local homes with private wells. During the same time he owned the Virginia Lee and Nancy Clair apartment buildings at 10th Street and the Boardwalk, and he built and operated the Surfside 8 Motel in Ocean City. In 1978, Buddy started a new career in Ocean City with the purchase of the Marina Deck Restaurant in partnership with his son, Frank. For the next 16 years he was absorbed in learning the restaurant business and building a family-friendly resort restaurant, which over the years had employed many of his grandchildren in various positions.

While building these business ventures and investing in local real estate projects, Buddy's real pleasure was serving his community and helping others. He joined the Salisbury Jaycees in 1946, which marked the beginning of his involvement in many local professional organizations. His membership in both the VFW and Elks Club provided for many enjoyable times. In 1948, he was elected to the Salisbury City Council at the age of 27, and in 1950 began serving the first of three terms in the Maryland House of Delegates. His active political life ended with his unsuccessful bid for the Maryland Senate to incumbent Sen. Mary L. Nock. Always a strong voice for his beloved Eastern Shore, he gained the respect of Maryland governors and other representatives for his honesty and humor. He was honored by a special House Resolution upon his retirement from politics. The "Buddy" stories are still part of the folklore of Annapolis. His respect for others and his enthusiastic commitment to his community is the legacy that he leaves his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Jacqueline Vigor Hanna of Pompano Beach, Fla., and two stepdaughters, Tracey Vigor Aljabaari of Fort Myers, Fla., and Sallie Vigor Gordy of Ocean City. He also leaves his former wife, Mable Brown Hanna, and their children, Henry H. Hanna III and his wife, Dara, of Salisbury, Virginia Lee Brassel and her husband, Jon, of Annapolis, Frank B. Hanna Sr. and his wife, Nancy, of Salisbury and Nancy Clair Godwin and her husband, Jim, of Spruce Pine, N.C. In addition he leaves 10 grandchildren, Clair Aljabaari, Jemma Vigor, Harry Gordy, Will Brassel, Ryan Brassel, Frank Hanna Jr. and his wife, Kate, Wes Hanna, Leigh Hanna, Hank Godwin and Katie Godwin. His only great-grandchild, Cole Edward Hanna, is 6 months old. He is also survived by a nephew, James A. Grady and his wife, Suzie, of Timonium, Md. And finally, he leaves his caregiver, Claudia Eaton, who lovingly cared for Buddy for the past three years, since his move to Florida.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Buddy's name to The American Parkinson's Disease Association Inc., 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, N.Y. 10305.

Funeral arrangements will be private. A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, June 30, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Salisbury. Friends may visit the family starting at 11 a.m. that morning at St. Peter's Parish House. A celebration of Buddy's life will follow the memorial service at Brew River Restaurant around 1 p.m.