iMAPS NEW ENGLAND AWARDS

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Personal History Of George Hanow

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George Hanow, together with his Mother, immigrated in 1925 to the USA from Germany, he was 12 years old. His father, a Pharmacist was the owner of a Apothecary in Struet, Germany where he die during WW1 from Influenza. His older sister Susan left Germany in 1922 and worked as a Governess for a family in Newton. She faithfully sent every month a few dollars to her family in Germany. In one of the letters 12 year old George is thanking his sister for the $ 2.00 telling her what they were able to buy with it," a violin with a bow in a case, a pair of shiny black shoes, enough fabric to have a seamstress sew a navy and white suit for him. He also mentioned he is anxious to wear his new clothes and was wondering what the neighbors would say when they see him go to church with his mother. Those were the days!!

George graduated from Newton High School with High Honors despite the language barrier he had to deal with upon arriving. He was accepted and attended MIT, during Semester breaks he worked at Raytheon. Unfortunately he had to give up his studies after 2 years. He started to work fulltime at Raytheon to help support his mother. He regretted all his life that he was not able to graduate, despite it he had a very successful career advancing to Engineering Manager. In 1950 he proudly purchased a stately home in the Historic District of Sudbury.

After the decline of radio tubes, Raytheon acquired a contract with IBM to work on their SLT thick film hybrids substrates. George was trained in Fishkill N.Y. together with other Raytheon engineers. After a six months IBM stint he helped establish the Microelectronics facility in Quincy. George was one of those rare individuals that always took the blame himself if a project in his department was in trouble.

He was very instrumental forming the first ISHM N.E. chapter representing Raytheon and was chosen to be their first President.

George was very interested in American history, visited every battlefield, enjoyed the Arts, photography, classical music especially Opera. He was an accomplished pianist and Organist ( self taught) often got together with a Cellist and Violinist to make beautiful music in each others homes. He loved to travel, together with his mother and sister he crossed the USA three times and probably saw and knew more about this country and its history then most Americans born here. He never got married he felt obligated to support his mother and sister. Susan had many health problems and was not able to work anymore. He and his little family never went back to Germany again, his mother was adamant about this she had so many bitter memories living there during WW1. After his mother past away, George and Susan decided to travel back to their hometown Struet visit the old Apothecary and a distant relative. That part of the trip disappointed them, they were happy to be back in Sudbury. George took care of his ailing bedridden sister to the end at home. He himself had serious health problems towards the end of his life, he finally had to leave his home to spend the last days in a Hospice.