Dane Hannum

Dane Hannum, 91, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, died on Monday, September 25, 2023. He was born on September 21, 1932, in Summit, NJ, to Dane and Helen Hannum. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Thomasina Hannum; sister, Martha Tait; son, Dane "Eric" Hannum; daughter, Christine Hannum; grandchildren, Dane Shade, Ryland, and Ben Hannum; brother-in-law, Robert Pagan; son-in-law, Dan Ginter; daughter-in-law, Gail Evans; nephew, David Frank; and nieces, Cathy Matejka and Jennifer Morneault.

Dane was always a romantic at heart and the story about his courtship of Tommie, including a cross-country drive to Albuquerque to find her and a marriage proposal in Old Town, has been a favorite in the family for many years. Dane taught history for more than 35 years, starting in New York, then on Catalina Island, and finally in New Mexico where Southwestern culture and landscapes captured his imagination. He dedicated 20 years to teaching middle school at the Albuquerque Academy. Dane was a storyteller and kind of a ham, and singing and acting were always part of his life. He performed in his first musical, Finnian's Rainbow, in his early 20s. His acting career continued into the 1990s and included many shows at the Adobe Theater, Classics Theater, and the Albuquerque Civic Light Opera. Always seeking adventure, he floated wild rivers around the West with friends and traveled with his wife to Mexico, Puerto Rico, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Spain. After retiring in 1992, he and Tommie hiked the Camino de Santiago in 1996, and he dedicated more time to gardening (his passion and his bane), playing the guitar, and spending time with his grandkids. Dane has been described as kind, wise, generous, funny, a great dad and mentor, Papa, a loving husband, and one-of-a-kind. He will be remembered fondly by friends, colleagues, and generations of students.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 27, 2023, 4:00 p.m., at FRENCH - University. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to local charities: HopeWorks, Roadrunner Food Bank, or an organization of your choosing.