Jean S. Hansen, a former longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, died on January 2 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she had lived for the past 25 years. She was 82. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 19, 1928, Jean grew up in Chicago. She entered the Hutchins Program at the University of Chicago at the age of 16, and then transferred to UC Berkeley in 1947 to study anthropology. In 1948, Jean married Charles Hansen of St. Paul, Minnesota. During their two years in Berkeley, she sang in the chorus with the San Francisco Opera. After a short time in Carmel, they moved in 1951 to Pacific Palisades, where they lived for 32 years, raising their three children. They moved to Fort Bragg in 1984. Jean and Charles loved sailing in Santa Monica Bay and to Catalina Island and Ensenada. They were part owners of the Dreamer, a well-known 45-foot catamaran designed and built in a Palisades backyard. They enjoyed hiking in Temescal Canyon and the local mountains, and often attended the symphony, museums and art exhibits. Jean was passionate about civil rights and volunteered for Head Start and the Fair Housing Council. She volunteered for the PTA, Scouting events and summer day camps. She taught swimming for years, loved horseback riding, and spent as much time as possible at the beach with her family. She worked part-time for the Tidepool Gallery in Malibu and the St. Matthew’s Church office. Jean was an accomplished dancer, skier, tennis player, pianist and singer, and she graced many parties and Christmas celebrations with her rich soprano voice. After Jean and Chuck divorced in 1987, she moved to San Miguel de Allende, where she found a new life in the country she had fallen in love with at age 14. Jean returned to her love of horseback riding and rode nearly every day until just seven years ago. She sang with the choir at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, taught English part-time, and volunteered as an usher at the numerous concerts and events held in the city. Jean’s exuberance and zest for life were her greatest gifts; she could light up a room just by walking in, and everyone who met her felt that spark. Her conviction and courage to live her life to the fullest will be remembered by all who knew her. Jean was predeceased by her ex-husband, Chuck Hansen, in 2003. She leaves behind her son, Rick Hansen (wife Kathryn Anne) of Lucas, Kansas; her daughter, Carla Nichols (husband Bill, deceased) of Port Townsend, Washington; her daughter, Nina Hansen Machotka (husband Pavel) of Umbria, Italy; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A celebration of Jean’s life was held on January 20 by her dear friends (and second family) at La Mansion del Bosque in San Miguel de Allende.
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