Patton

I watched the movie "Patton" the other night. It was the first time I ever saw it without Dad. He loved that movie. Not just that movie but so many others. Before I moved out, we would stay up late and watch movie after movie a couple times a week. I enjoyed that time with him. Looking back now that he is gone, I wish we would have watched even more movies together. It just goes to show you that the things you appreciate today, you will appreciate even more so when they are gone.

Fun With Papa

Two Weeks

Today was two weeks since Dad passed. I cannot believe he is gone and just want to think that this has been some horrible mistake. I know it's not logical, but I keep racking my brain trying to come up with a way to make it not true. But there is nothing. I think, "If I just remember enough good stories, if I look at enough pictures, if I just love him enough..." I've even looked up time travel. No really. I have never felt so helpless or out of control. I guess we all just have to huddle together and carry on the best way we know how, but nothing seems right without him here. I miss you, Dad, but will try to keep your memory alive and make you proud.

What It Takes To Be Number One

For as long as I can remember, Dad has had this framed speech hanging in our home. As I read it back now, I realize how much it was a part of his personal philosophy.

"Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.

There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that's first place. I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second place bowl game, but it is a game for losers played by losers. It is and always has been an American zeal to be first in anything we do, and to win, and to win.

Every time a football player goes to ply his trade he's got to play from the ground up - from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their head. That's O.K. You've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.

Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization - an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win - to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don't think it is.

It is a reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That's why they are there - to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules - but to win.

And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat.

I don't say these things because I believe in the "brute" nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and he's exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

-Vince Lombardi

**UPDATE** I was talking to Dan about this post tonight and he reminded me of how the poster title read What It Takes To Be No. One and we kids would always joke around about the No. part saying What It Takes To Be No One (as in nobody).

A Family Favorite

How are you?

When someone would ask Dad how he was doing, he often had the same answer...

"Fat and Sassy."

Swimming

Yesterday, we all pulled together for a pool party to celebrate Seth's 4th birthday. It's pretty hard to have a celebration when the life of the party is missing. The above photos were taken at Seth's party last year. I love to swim and come by it honestly. Dad would swim anywhere - a pool, a lake (even though he was allergic to fresh water and would get a terrible rash), the ocean. Heck, I think he would even swim in a mud puddle if he could!

I have so many swimming memories from childhood that I don't even know if I can collect them all in one post. My grandparents had a little summer home in Donegal, Pa that had a community lake. Every summer we would spend countless hours in in the lake. We would use huge tractor tire inner tubes like floats. It has been years since that lake existed and even more years since it was swimmable but I will always remember it.

I also remember taking trips to Ocean City and later moving to Myrtle Beach. I remember burying Dad in the sand and Mom standing on the shore worrying as Dad took us a little deeper than she'd like.

One time, when Mom, Dana, Dan and I were in Pittsburgh we came home to a new swimming pool in our backyard! I'm not sure what Dad spent but we definitely got our money's worth out of it! We swam in that pool non-stop for years and even used it to bathe in after Hurricane Hugo hit and we were without water and electricity for several weeks. We used to love swimming at night and would often sing one of Dad's favorite songs, Tiny Bubbles, as we swam, danced and made whirlpools in the pool.

Later, when we moved to Charlotte and lived in Matthews Village, we would often go night swimming. Technically the pool was supposed to close at 10 PM, but whenever the security guard would make his rounds, around midnight, Dad would work his magic. A few one-liners and a compliment or two later we were cleared to swim the rest of the night!

From Jason "Jake" Lewis

You are all in my thoughts and prayers. My Godfather Bruce Hannon passed away recently. I am very sad, and the world is without one of the greatest people that ever lived! I miss him so much already, and wish that I could have just one more conversation, laugh, drink, smile, etc... with him. He leaves behind a wonderful mother, an incredible wife, and three of the BEST kids that anyone could ask for. Their spouses and children will undoubtedly help fill some of the void left by Bruce! I am still in shock, and have not fully grieved the loss of my Godfather. I know that he is in a better place and has no more pain, and is ribbing everyone up in heaven! Spending time with the family over the last couple days was great, but made me realize that I don' t spend enough time visiting my family. I will, from now on try much harder to make time for my family and visit more often! This experience has taught me that you never know what tomorrow brings, so make the most of every second that you have on this earth. Thank you again, and I love you all very much. I am looking forward to seeing all of you in the not too distant future!!!

Words from Peg

Bruce's mother, Peg, is famous for her journals and Bruce could spend hours pouring over them. Recently, while Bruce was on a trip to Pittsburgh, he came across this poem in the back of one of them and fell in love with it. Peg thinks you will all agree that it fits him to a tee.

A Family of Friends

You'll find a family

of friends living here.

A small group of minds,

and of hearts.

With some of us clever,

and some of us not,

At times you can't tell us apart.

There's one who is cranky and

one who is shy,

And one who is really uncouth:

And just when you think

you've discovered who's who,

You'll really uncover the truth.

The truth that we're

all just a little of each,

A group of imperfects are we.

And sometimes I might

criticize them to you,

But don't ever knock them to me.

Cause the one thing

that ties us together for life

No matter how far we're apart,

Is love for each other,

a family of friends,

A small group of minds,

and of hearts.

Words from Heath

What do you say about an Uncle who was also your best friend?
My Uncle Bruce did so much for my family and I. From the time I was little he included me in most of his family's activities and treated me as his 4th child. When I was older I moved to Charlotte. My Uncle and my Aunt Carol opened their home and their arms to me. While this was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me my Uncle gave me much more than even that. He married my Aunt Carol when they were both very young. My Aunt Carol is also one of my best friends. I have gone to her for advice many times and she has not one time turned me away. Together they gave me three cousins Amy, Dana, and Dan who are more like sisters and a brother to me.
When Michelle and I were married Uncle Bruce insisted we hold the reception at his home as always he rolled out the red carpet for us, our friends and family. Unk could "roll out the red carpet" better than anyone I ever knew. All of you know he didn't need an excuse to throw a party and no one loved to party like he did.
My Grandfather has been gone from us for a little over two years now. When he passed away it took a lot out of my Uncle but he made taking care of my Grandmother his personal mission till the day he died and he loved every minute of spending that time with Grandma. He was proud of the fact that he could do that for her and for us. Now my Cousins and I will try to fill his shoes and take care of Grandma and the rest of this family. Although I doubt we will be able to do as much as my Uncle did we will try to show you all of the love and attention he did.
My Uncle always put himself second and his family and friends first. He was truly an unselfish person and the definition of a gentleman.
Folks, Thursday August 12th will go down as one of the darkest days of my life. I feel really cheated because Uncle Bruce and I had a lot of unfinished business we never got to. We planned lots of fishing trips we never got to take. We planned to take my pontoon to the lake when we had time this summer. We didn't get to sneak up to the Ale House just one last time to shoot some stick and leave Aunt Carol and Michelle wondering why it takes 4 hours to run to Harris Teeter and then back to the house for dinner. Unk and I never did win that damn powerball money that we had such big plans for! (wait till laughter ends)
My Uncle had a lot to be proud of in his 34 year career with Sears but nothing made him more proud than his family.
Aunt Carol he was always so proud of you and so am I. Thank You for taking such great care of him throughout his life.
Grandma he was very proud of you and Papa. His parents meant the world to him as you well know.
Uncle Bruce was also very proud of my Father, his brother Jim. Unk was there with him when he graduated from Duquesne and Anesthesia school and often bragged about his accomplishments.
Amy and Mark, Dana and Domingo, Dan and Erika Uncle Bruce was always very proud of all of you and the beautiful grandchildren you gave him.
To my Daughter Ashley you know how very special you were to your Uncle Bruce. Always remember he used to say you were his great niece and you were a G-R-E-A-T niece!
Tyler I don't even have to tell you how special you were to Unk he watched you grow from a 5 year old little boy to a grown man. Uncle Bruce always bragged about what a polite well mannered young man you are.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone for being here today. If you are here then Bruce probably touched your life in some special way and each of you are special to him. While we will miss him he would not want us to be sad. He is in a better place with many of our other loved ones who left us before him.

Words from Dan and Family

I don't know how much paper I used to try to come up with the right words to express the love I feel for my dad. It's an impossible task. My dad was awesome. He was the "cool dad" that all your friends want to hang out with. He was the dad that wanted to give the world to his family. He was the dad that, no matter what, was proud of his children and knew how lucky he was to marry his best friend. He was the dad that I want too be in so many ways. I'm not sure if anyone knows this but Dad had a couple of friends. If you were to ask them one word to describe "The Burseman" I think it would be "giving". He gave way more than he would ever receive. Dad, I am going to miss you so much. I will always keep you with me because you mean so much to me. I love you so much. P.S. You are handsome and you are the boss.

Words from Dana and Family

Losing my Dad has been the most difficult experience of my life. I was telling my Mom that I don't quite feel adult enough to be without him, even though I am 31 years old. Dad always had all the answers and always held my hand through every phase of my life. He held my hand as I was a baby learning to walk. He held my hand as I went school for the first time and as he taught me to ride a bike. He held my hand as I learned hard life lessons about friendship and love. As I went off to college, started my career, and moved out on my own he was always there every time I needed him. He held my hand as he walked me down the isle to marry Domingo whom he always said was his son, not a son-in-law. And at the hospital when we were all anxiously awaiting Sophia's arrival he was there holding my hand. I feel very fortunate to have been able to hold his hand in return. On Thursday, I was holding his hand and holding my mother as he drifted off to heaven. It was the most pain I have ever felt, but I feel so blessed to be able to be there for him in that moment.

My Dad has always been my biggest fan, proud of me for every accomplishment no matter how small it may have seemed. I have learned so much from my father, but most of all, I've learned to love life, live it to the fullest, always tell your children how much you love them, and never forget to laugh.

For as long as I can remember Dad always said he wanted his ashes to be scattered in the ocean down at Murrells Inlet. As a family, we will be taking a trip to do just this. As we say our final goodbyes, one of Dad's favorite songs, "The rhythm of my heart", seems to be more appropriate than ever. "No never will I roam, for I know my heart is home, where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing."

Words from Amy and Family

My dad was so many things to so many people: loving son & husband, loyal and true friend, dedicated company man... But in our household growing up, I will always remember his as the Ambassador of Fun. Don't get me wrong. He always took care of business, but once all the ducks were in a row, it was time to play. Whether it was surprising us with a trip to Disney or a swimming pool in the backyard, he always made sure our childhood was a magical place.

He loved to give us the wow factor but it was the little, everyday things that really made him special. I remember Mom, Dana and I watching in wonder as he played a joke on my tiny brother - trying to convince him that the lid off of a jar of peanuts was a birthday present. I can still hear him saying. "Look Dan you can use it as a frisbee...." trying to hold back his infectious laugh. He was a fantastic story teller and often wove tales about siblings named May, Nada and Nad. It wasn't until years later that we realized May, Nada and Nad were our names with the letters moved around.

Growing Up Hannon, I'm pleased to say, was different than growing up in most families. Our Thanksgiving traditions included singing the Turkey Song from Saturday Night Live and watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - a movie that we would quote all year. ("Can't see the lines, can you Russ?") On Christmas Eve Dad was certain that Santa was tired of milk and cookies. We always left Santa shrimp cocktail and beer.

When I married Mark he immediately became a son to Dad - not a son-in-law - and Mark's Children Carlee and Miles became grandchildren - not step-grandchildren. He knew that blood isn't what makes up families - it's love. He did nothing halfway and once you were in the family, you're in the family for life.

Dad also was an amazing grandfather and always made sure the kids had so much fun when they would visit. Dad always had something fun for them to do and let it be known that there were "no timeouts at Papa's." A line Seth was more than happy to repeat.

Even as dad was very ill in the hospital, he never lost that amazing sense of humor. We all were lucky to share many laughs with him as he was awaiting his surgery. One time he asked me to push the button on his hospital bed to prop him up, As the bed began to move he jumped, acting as if he were hurt. He laughed so hard I had to remind him to breathe.

Underneath all of the fun an laughter ran a strong undercurrent of love. A love that reached from Mom and Grandma to his three children and our families as we grew and married and to everyone he ever met. He was our coach, cheerleader and number one fan. He was our teacher and our fearless leader. He was our rock and our soft place to fall. I don't know how we will find the strength to go on without him, but I know we will. He has already given us enough strength to last a lifetime. So we will carry all of these fantastic memories with us and look forward to the day when we will be together again. We love you dad.

Words from Carol

Dear Bruce,
How do I say goodbye to half of myself? Sometimes my better half. Sometimes my worse. But always beside me. I have spent a lot of time calming the waters from your huge wake. I will spend the rest of my life looking for your ripples. Thank you for giving my three brave, wonderful children. I will love you always.

Obituary

Bruce Hannon
June 17, 1952 - August 12, 2010


Mr. Bruce Hannon, 58, of Matthews, passed away Thursday, August 12, 2010 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC.
Mr. Hannon was born June 17, 1952 in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of Margaret Bozurich of West Mifflin, PA and the late Michael Bozurich. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother, Keith Hannon. Bruce retired after thirty-four years of proud service with Sears and Roebuck Company and he was a Past Master of Masonic Lodge 641 in McKeesport, PA.
In addition to his mother, Bruce is survived by his beloved wife, Carol M. Hannon; children, Amy Roper (Mark) of Cayce, SC, Dana Palos (Domingo) of Charlotte, NC, and Daniel Hannon (Erika) of Concord, NC; brothers, James Hannon of Valrico, FL and William Hannon of Pittsburgh, PA; and by six grandchildren who he dearly loved.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 15, 2010 at McEwen – Mint Hill Chapel. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 16, 2010 from the funeral home chapel with The Reverend Earl Bradshaw officiating.
Arrangements under the direction of McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel, Charlotte, NC (704) 545-4864