Obituary of Henry John Haase Jr.

Henry John “Hank” Haase, Jr., 74, of Schenectady, NY, passed away peacefully in his home at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday surrounded by his family.

Hank was born on April 18, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Dr. Henry J. and Geraldine (Davis) Haase, and brother to the late William (Martha Miller) Haase. He graduated from Albany Academy in 1961 where he was captain of the football team and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.  Hank attended Lehigh University, Mitchell College, and Boston University. Following his studies, Hank enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1967, earning a National Defense Service Medal and a Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged as a Radioman, Second Class in 1971.  Hank married Mary Ellen Anderson at the Coast Guard Memorial Chapel in New London, Connecticut on April 20, 1968.

In a time before modern-day satellite communications, Hank’s military service stationed him on ships off the coast of Greenland, where he would often be the first or last point of contact for pilots on trans-Atlantic flights. It was a natural fit for him, as his love of people and ability to easily connect with them was one of his defining features. In addition to a long and distinguished subsequent career as a financial advisor, he was an avid and talented golfer and a fixture at his local golf club, which earned him the moniker of the “Mayor of Mohawk.” He also enjoyed fishing, watching sports (particularly his beloved and occasionally beleaguered Boston Red Sox), and, when the mood struck, decorating his impressive Yahtzee scorecards with modernist and post-impressionist flourishes.

Despite his many personal and professional accomplishments, nothing was more important to Hank than his friends and family, whom he loved and devoted himself to entirely. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary Ellen (Anderson) Haase, his daughter Stephanie (Christopher) Roberts, his son Brandon (Helena Oechsner) and his grandchildren Grace and Henry Roberts.

A celebration of Hank’s life will be held Wednesday, March 28^th at 12pm at the chapel at Albany Academy with a reception following at Mohawk Golf Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Foundation for Ellis Medicine or Community Hospice.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Ellis Hospital, Community Hospice, and the many friends who reached out and supported Hank during the past months.