ACC remembers grad killed in line of duty

Eric Hanson was many things. He was an artist, musician, avid reader, writer and a fluent speaker of Japanese. Hanson understood the delicacy of life. He was inspired by life and had a thirst for knowledge. At 18, he traveled to Hiroshima to see firsthand the devastation of the atomic bomb and lived with the hope that no one would go through that again.

Hanson attended the Emergency Medical Services Program at Austin Community College's Eastview Campus. He did not start there, but was led there. Before entering ACC, Hanson was studying engineering and biology at the University of Texas when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred. At that point, he reevaluated his life and realized that his heart was no longer in what he was doing.

Rita Hanson, his mother, spoke of Hanson taking this time to do research that showed a local shortage of EMS personnel. Many EMS personnel are unsung heroes who work quietly and are often not shown a lot of attention. This was a perfect match for Hanson. He just wanted to do some good in the world. ACC's Dean of Heath Sciences, Hanson Merino, spoke highly of Hanson and said, "He chose to do something to have a positive impact on the world and he had a good heart. He wanted to do EMS for the right reasons."

The paramedic field can be a dangerous one. On Oct. 10, Hanson, 26, was killed in the line of duty when the ambulance he was driving collided with another vehicle just west of Austin near the town of Bee Cave. He died doing what he loved. He had been a paramedic in the town of Marble Falls for a year and a half.

"He came across as very shy and not an outgoing personality," said Robin Richter, a former professor of Hanson's. "He did not seek unwanted attention and he had a unique sense of humor."

Richter also spoke of how Hanson drew clever cartoons on his test papers, illustrating what he struggled with or thought about the test. She added, "He wanted to learn. When he would redo a test, he valued insights from his teachers and appreciated feedback and used it to his advantage." Pauline VanMears, another of Hanson's professors, spoke of his commitment to getting it right.

"Hanson was quiet and very bright," VanMears said. "It wasn't so much the grades than his desire to be the best paramedic he could. He kept working to improve and I never heard an unkind word from him. He was first to volunteer and first to put himself out there. He was always helpful. He was here to give back to others and to be of service."

Shayna Natkin attended ACC with Hanson and had worked with him in Marble Falls for a period of time. She said she had watched him blossom into a caring, compassionate paramedic. She spoke of how great he was with patients and how much he cared for them. Once, while attending to a little boy, Hanson got down to the boy's level to make sure he understood what was going on. It brought tears to her eyes to see such compassion.

Before his death, Hanson was working with his sister in completing one thousand paper cranes. It is believed in the Japanese culture, the crane is a symbol of health, happiness, and peace. Legend has it that if a person folds 1,000 cranes their wish or prayer will be answered. The Hanson's are working to complete their son's project with the wish that others do not die in this way.

The Austin Community College Foundation is setting up a scholarship in Hanson's name so that others who want to be a paramedic may receive financial aid. If you would like to donate to the Eric Hanson Endowed Scholarship, please mail your contribution to the Austin Community College, Attn: Eric Hanson Endowed Scholarship, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas 78752.

Mrs. Hanson said a particular quote from Benjamin Franklin has been helpful as she seeks to cope with her son's untimely death.

"A long life may not be good enough," Franklin said, "but a good life is long enough."