Hanson
(photo: “Can’t Hurt Steel” Fund)
NEW YORK – James J. (J.J.) Hanson, a former aide to Ulster County Executive Michael Hein and a Hudson Valley regional representative to former Governors Elliott Spitzer and David Paterson died Saturday.
The 36-year-old former Marine was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014 and began treatments vowing to fight the disease and used the motto “Can’t Hurt Steel.”
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther knew Hanson since he was a teenager.
“He was brave in war and brave throughout this illness,” Gunther said. “This is a big loss for the community. Everybody loved him.”
After he left state government, he worked as Ulster County budget director under County Executive Michael Hein. He said Hanson was “a young man with incredible bravery who lived an extraordinary life in a short period of time. Our community and our country are safer because of his action,” Hein said.
Hanson lived in Sullivan County before moving to Ulster.
