Bruce Hansen

Long-time Fountain Hills resident and civic leader Bruce Hansen passed away Aug. 11, 2016. He was currently serving as chairman of the Sanitary District.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Town Councilwoman Cassie Hansen. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, long time Fountain Hills teacher, Pam Aister.

An Arizona resident since 1944, Hansen began his long career in the telecommunications field starting out as a lineman for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph (now Century Link) in 1951. Installing telecommunication infrastructure throughout the state, Mr. Hansen experienced first-hand the colorful past of rural Arizona.

Working through the ranks, he was ultimately chosen to serve as a technical writer at the prestigious Bell Labs in Indiana where many new technological innovations were conceived.

After 20 years, Bruce left the telephone company and was hired as vice president of operations for the state’s first and largest interconnect telephone company supervising projects such as Pima County, Arizona Bank and Goldwater Department stores.

After 12 years, Mr. Hansen started his own telecommunications business, CBH Communications, in 1983 serving such clients as La Posada Resort, Sonora Labs, the Federal Prison and the University of Arizona.

After moving to Fountain Hills with wife, Cassie and working on the successful incorporation of the town in 1989, Bruce served the first Town Council on the cable TV subcommittee. He began his first term on the Sanitary District Board of Directors in 1990 and has served on the board for all but six of the years since.

He has also served on the Planning and Zoning Commission (chair for two years), the Chamber of Commerce Board (president three years) spearheading the Avenue holiday lighting efforts. He also was active with Sunrise and Noon Kiwanis (president 2.5 years) clubs, and he become well known for his spaghetti fundraisers raising thousands of dollars for sick and homeless children, the local museum and local community organizations.

In 1999 Bruce and Cassie were named Chamber of Commerce Business Persons of the Year.

He served on the original Boys and Girls Club Board, ultimately donating labor and cable to wire the new facility for telephone, data and television.

According to Bruce’s wishes and preference to privately operate behind the scenes, out of the spotlight, there will be no services. Cassie would like to thank all who responded and contributed to “Project Bruce”, posting thoughts, stories and memories that put a smile to his face and tear to his eye while he could still appreciate it and to Jay for getting the word out.

Any donations in Bruce’s name can be made to ADOG or Pals Rescue, two local groups he actively supported.