Roland Clements Hanson, 75, of Tempe, AZ and Vashon, WA died on August 28, 2009 following a two-year struggle with Multiple Myeloma. His wife, Joan Acton Hanson, preceded him in death. Roland is survived by his sister Connie, brother Hugh, children Phyllis, Pamela, Julie, and Jeffrey, and grandchildren Ruth, Heather, Claire, and Charles. Roland was born and grew up in Barnum, MN. Despite his high school’s canceling math for an entire year, Roland went on to complete a B.S. in Engineering Physics at Michigan Technological University and a Ph.D. in Solid State Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1960. He met and married Joan in 1962 while teaching at Reed College. After postdoctoral work at Cornell University, he joined the faculty at Arizona State University in 1966, teaching and conducting research on the behavior of materials. He rose to full professor while helping pioneer the use of diamond anvil cells to create extraordinarily high pressures, and used sophisticated scattering and absorption techniques to measure their effects. Throughout his career, Roland enjoyed sharing his knowledge and skill with students and colleagues. He was also an avid do-it-yourself enthusiast who enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and related hobbies. Above all else, he valued his family and friends. Roland and Joan built their dream home on Vashon Island, WA in 1988, where they established a community of friends after retirement in 1999. Roland will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Memorial services will be at 5:00 pm Saturday, October 17 at the Tempe Pyle Adult Center, 655 E. Southern Ave.

Donations in memory of Roland Hanson may be made to the ASU Physics Department (http://physics.asu.edu/support).

(paid obituary)