Eric P. Hanson, 45, of Hammer + Sickle passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 8th, 2018. Accordinging to Anthony Faletra CEO of KLIN Groupe, “The family and company is saddened by this tragic and unexpected loss. KLIN will continue to follow the path on both sides of the business that Eric paved for them. He was one of the most innovative people in the industry and it is our job, pleasure and honor to follow this path that he laid for us. Our thoughts and prayers right now are with his wife Jennifer, daughters Caroline and Ella as well as his parents Rick and Martha along with his sister Ellen.”
Please join us live on The Cigar Authority, Saturday, June 16th at 12pm as we will be joined by Erik Wentworth, National Sales Manager for more on this tragic loss.
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, January 26, 1973, the beloved son of Eric W. “Rick” and Martha (Reardon) Hanson, he attended Chelmsford Schools and was a graduate of Chelmsford High School.
Eric graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1995 as an Academic All American and Captain of the Golf Team. He continued his studies at American University attaining a Master’ Degree in Corporate Public Communications
After his time in Washington, he came home to join his father and family in business and eventually became the President and COO of the D.J. Reardon Company.
Following the transfer of the company, Eric, an entrepreneur by nature, founded the KLIN Groupe, a successful spirits and wine company which later expanded to include cigars. As Executive Chairman, he created and introduced Hammer and Sickle Vodka, which was made in Russia, to the U.S. Market. He later followed that up with wine, cigar and rum products under the umbrella of the KLIN Groupe in Lowell.
A highly respected businessman, Eric served as a Trustee and member of the Investment Committee of Circle Health, as a Corporator of Lowell Five Bank, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro and a past board member of the Lowell Plan.
Active in the Greater Lowell charitable and civic community, he was a former Chairman of the Board and Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell. A philanthropist at heart, he and his family supported several non-profit organizations throughout Greater Lowell.
A member of Vesper Country Club, he had a passion and skill for golf and enjoyed playing with his father, his daughters and his friends and was a member of several Lowell City Golf Teams.
A kind, generous and thoughtful person, with a sometimes irreverent sense of humor, Eric will be deeply missed by those who knew him best. Besides his wife and parents, Eric, a dedicated and loving father, is survived by his two daughters Caroline E. Hanson and Ella M. Hanson both of Lowell, students at the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro; his sister Dr. Ellen M. Hanson and her husband Jamie Hawes of Hingham; his nephew Kai S. Hawes and niece Zoë E. Hawes both of Hingham; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher from 4 to 8 P.M. Wednesday. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass to be celebrated Thursday morning at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH at 11 o’clock followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery in North Tewksbury. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, 657 Middlesex St., Lowell, MA 01851.
