Robert W. Hanks, 79, of Winter Harbor, passed away on Oct. 21 at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital following a brief illness.
He was born May 17, 1928, in Springfield, Mass. Bob graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Ph.D. in marine zoology and ecology.
He began his career as a fishery research biologist at the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Laboratory in West Boothbay. He was acting laboratory director and ecology program leader at the BCF Laboratory in Oxford, Md. In Washington, D.C., he was a foreign fisheries expert with the U.S. Dept. of Interior/International Affairs and senior planning officer with the National Marine Fisheries Service. He went on to become deputy director for the Northeast Region of the National Marine Fisheries Service in Gloucester, Mass., and regional liaison officer in Portland. He was the National Marine Fisheries representative to all Sea Grant programs.
After his retirement in 1984, he moved to Winter Harbor with his wife, Joan. He served as a marine consultant to federal and state government agencies, academic institutions, sea grant programs and private industry. He was the chairman of the Comprehensive Plan Committee for the town of Winter Harbor.
Bob will be dearly missed by his wife and best friend of 56 years, Joan Fish Hanks of Winter Harbor; sons, Rome Hanks and wife Susan Gilmartin of Orono, Jim Hanks and wife Liz of Eastsound, Wash., and Adam Hanks and wife Diane of Huntley, Ill.; and daughter, Julie Hanks Clark of Winter Harbor.
He was predeceased by a son, Joel Hanks of Winter Harbor.
He was a devoted grandfather and loved spending time with his seven grandchildren, Laura, Ben, Lindsay, Andrew, Andrea, Megan and Ryan; and great-grandson, Parker. He leaves behind many dear friends.
He will be remembered for his great love of the outdoors and all things environmental, his gift of patience and understanding, and the rock that he was to his family.
Celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Contributions may be made in his memory to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203 or online at nature.org
