Neil Eric Hansen

Neil “Eric” Hansen, 57

New London, NC

Neil Eric Hansen, always known as Eric to all who loved him, passed away on his 57th birthday on March 19th, 2022, at Duke University Hospital in Durham North Carolina after a long and courageous battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.  Eric and his family were forever grateful to the selfless donor who enabled Eric to receive a double lung transplant in January 2015, allowing him to live and breathe again for another 7 years.  Sadly, despite every effort by his medical team to save him, his recent illness caused his new lungs to fail.  Eric was able to be surrounded by his family who adored him as he passed peacefully into his everlasting life with his devoted wife Krisha holding his hand until the moment he let go.

Eric is the son of the late Neil Edward Hansen, and Jean (Schondorf) Hansen, formerly of Westbrook Connecticut, where Eric grew up and spent most of his adult life.  He was very grateful to his parents for a wonderful childhood – he especially cherished his memories of family dinners around his mother’s table, fierce and funny Parcheesi tournaments, the wonderful camping trips across this country that he loved, and the unforgettable vacations at the family’s lake house in Lake Ossipee, New Hampshire. 

Eric married his beloved wife, Krisha (Fowler) Hansen in 1998 and together they truly lived every word of their vows.  They faced many challenges throughout their marriage, but they always found ways to infuse fun and laughter and memorable moments into their lives.  They were blessed with two wonderful children; his beautiful and cherished daughter Kelsey Martowski whom he always called “his ray of sunshine” and  Kelsey’s childhood sweetheart and husband, Jake, whom Eric truly loved and respected; and his son Jeremy who was his best friend, right hand man, and the extension of his soul. 

Eric was predeceased by his father Neil Edward Hansen, and he was greatly comforted at the thought of being reunited with him once again.  Besides the love of his life and amazing caretaker, Krisha, his children, Kelsey and Jake Martowski, and Jeremy Hansen, and his mother, Jean, Eric leaves behind his oldest and very close sister, Sue (Hansen) Adams and her husband Patrick; his devoted and loving sister Diane (Hansen) Greco, and her husband Robert; and his nieces and nephews Patrick and Hayley Adams, and Danielle, Christopher (Savannah), Sara and Michael Greco.

Eric was known for his love of fun and adventure, especially if it involved a motor, and/or wheels, and/or water.  He loved muscle cars, big four wheeling trucks, speedboats, and all kinds of racing and watersports. Eric was known for his outstanding mechanical abilities. He could build something out of nothing, and he could fix anything he touched. He loved rebuilding his Donzi Classic speedboat and restoring vintage cars, especially his 1972 Corvette Sting Ray, his award winning GTO Judge, and his big four wheeling “Yotas”.  He took great pride in the home he built in Westbrook, as well as the house he was renovating in North Carolina.   Eric was a fabulous storyteller with a larger-than-life personality.  He was known for bringing people to tears with his outrageously funny stories . . . and just when you thought you had heard it all, you realized that he was only just getting started.  Many people who did not know him often thought he was the paid entertainment, for he truly was the life of every party. 

Most notably, however, Eric was known for being a good husband, father, son, brother, and friend to so very many people.  In fact, Eric never met a stranger, only friends he hadn’t been introduced to yet.   Family and friends meant everything to him.  He was very grateful to his sister-in-law Brooke who encouraged him to seek treatment at Duke University Hospital, and was of great help in getting him into their transplant program.  He was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support that he received over the years from his family, his friends - many of whom he has had since childhood, and from the entire Westbrook community.  Eric’s health challenges taught us all that life is filled with uncertainties.  However, for all those who knew and loved Eric, we are quite certain of one thing - that Heaven and Earth will never be the same.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 7th at the Elks Lodge (1784 Cottage), 142 Seaside Avenue, Westbrook, CT.  The family will receive guests at 1pm before the 2pm Memorial Service.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Donate Life (https://www.donatelife.net/give-to-dla/)  or to the Lung Transplant Foundation (https://lungtransplantfoundation.org) in honor of the incredible care that Eric received at Duke University Hospital, most notably from the Duke Lung Transplant Team, the 7800 Critical Care Team, and the 6W and 8W MICU Teams.  To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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