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Donald Christian Hansen


Donald Christian Hansen, 74, a Tiburon resident for 35 years, died on April 9, 2020 at his home in Oceanside, California, surrounded by his family.


He was born in Orange, New Jersey, on November 17, 1945, son of Harold Torger Hansen and Esther Margareth Nielsen. He grew up in Livingston, New Jersey, where he was captain of the wrestling team and rebuilt a 1952 MG during high school. He graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1967, where he majored in economics and was a member of the Alpha Theta fraternity. Don then served as an officer in Vietnam before returning to Hanover, where he received his MBA from Tuck School of Business in 1972.


He married Pamela Ann Smith from Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1973. They lived in Boston and Natick, Massachusetts, while Pam attended law school, and then moved to Tiburon, California. In 2013, they retired to San Felipe in Baja, Mexico, where they built their dream home on the Sea of Cortez.


Don worked in finance and investment banking in San Francisco at Sutro & Co., Wells Fargo, Hambrecht & Quist, and Marketron.


Don was an avid scuba diver, vintner, wood-worker, and classic-car enthusiast. He loved cooking for his gourmet groups, hosting full-moon parties at his beach home, and playing his guitars.


Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Pamela Smith Hansen of San Felipe, Mexico, and Oceanside, California; three daughters, Morgan Hagerty, Whitney Musser and Jordan Griffin of Carlsbad, California; a brother, H. Roger Hansen of Keene, New Hampshire; and five grandchildren.


A celebration of life will be held during a full moon on the beach at his home in San Felipe, Mexico, once the border is reopened and it is safe to gather.


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