DCI Ukiah Patient Henry “Hank” Hanson
Thanks to a generous bequest from former patient Henry “Hank” Hanson, patients at Dialysis Clinic, Inc.’s Ukiah clinic are enjoying 24 new dialysis chairs.
A dialysis patient for four years, Hank never missed a treatment. “He was very funny and always happy,” said Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician Jannette Guzman. “He was always looking out for other patients.”
Hank passed away in 2022 at age 91 and further demonstrated care for his fellow patients by including a gift to the Ukiah clinic in his will.
“It takes a very special person facing the end of life to think about the people who are still doing dialysis,” said one of the Ukiah clinic’s patients.
Although he never publicly shared his donation plans, the DCI clinic was among several healthcare organizations to receive gifts from Hank’s estate totaling nearly $3 million. Hank’s nephew, Ray Hanson, was a personal representative of his uncle’s estate. “None of us realized he had that sort of wealth,” Ray said. “Although it wasn’t me who was doing the giving, I sure got to benefit seeing the joy [the recipients] had for what they received.”
Born Nov. 1, 1931, in Chicago, Hank was one of four siblings. After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force, training in communications. Hank was a decorated service member and, after leaving the Air Force, moved to the San Francisco Bay area. There he began a career with AT&T until he retired in 2010.
Hank never married or had children, instead focusing on his career, his extended family and his dogs. As his health declined in his late 80s, Hank began dialysis at DCI’s Ukiah, Calif., clinic, about 30 miles from home.
“We are deeply grateful for Hank’s generous gift that enabled us to purchase new dialysis chairs for our Ukiah patients,” said Doug Johnson, MD, CEO and Vice Chair of DCI’s Board. “Hank was able to fulfill his philanthropic goals in support of the organizations that were most important to him, and DCI is honored to be one of them.”
