Christian Walter Hansen

SCARBOROUGH – Christian Walter Hansen, Jr. passed on May 25, 2025 at the Maine Veteran’s Home in Scarborough at the age of 93. Known better as Mr. Hansen to his students and “Wally” among his friends and family, Walter was born Oct. 21, 1931, to C. Walter Hansen, Sr. and Pearl (Scribner) Hansen and raised in Westbrook, Maine. His early days included time swimming in the infamous “Tank,” in the Stroudwater River, setting up pins at the local bowling ally for a dime a string, and drumming in a local dance band that played in Portland and Westbrook.

After earning All-State honors on the basketball court for the Blue Blazes, he graduated from Westbrook High School in 1950, enlisted in the US Navy, and began his service at Camp Lejeune. While serving honorably as a Corpsman for 8 years, including several years at the Portsmouth Naval Base, Walter married his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Lemieux, who would be the love of his life for more than 72 years. Always proud of his service, he was a member of the American Legion and was most often seen wearing his Navy Corpsman ball cap.

While raising their young family, Walter graduated from Gorham State Teachers College (now the University of Southern Maine), before earning his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Maine. Walter began his professional career teaching history and coaching high school basketball in Morrisville and Marion, New York; he would fondly recall his decade working in a classroom for the remainder of his life.

In 1969, Howard Reiche hired him to be the Assistant Principal at Portland High School, before succeeding him as Principal beginning in the 1972-73 academic year. As Principal of Portland High, Mr. Hansen was held in the highest regard by students, teachers, and staff. Until his final days, his students would continue to share memories and appreciation whenever he was out in public, most notably at the Portland Expo or Fitzpatrick Field. The Portland-Deering Thanksgiving Day game was an annual homecoming game, where he delighted in seeing former students and teachers. He regularly played cards with fellow teachers, and many credit him for first hiring them early in their careers.

Mr. Hansen had over a forty-year career in education that included serving as both Assistant Principal and Athletic Director for his Alma Mater, Westbrook High. He continued to volunteer with the Maine Principal’s Association long after he retired and was proud to have been elected to serve on the Scarborough Board of Education. Walter and Jackye lived in the “1840 House” on Pine Point Road for 30 years and became regulars at Pats Pizza in Scarborough, where they could be found dining almost every Monday evening.

Outside of education, Walter would spend countless weekends dealing at local flea markets and perusing over Portland area yard sales in search of vintage and antique toys, trains, magazines, and whatever else he thought someone might like to buy. Always quick to give a customer a deal, he put smiles on countless faces, regardless if you were buying or selling.

A life-long sports fan, Walter followed the Boston Celtics with a unique passion. While he also followed the home-town Patriots and Red Sox, he was always a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Lions. In his final years, he enjoyed attending Maine Celtics games in the same gym he had played at as a high school standout.

Nevertheless, Walter’s passion for athletics was probably best displayed through his commitment to supporting youth sports throughout his life. Through decades of work with the Maine Principals Association, Walter was instrumental in the growth and expansion of girls’ sports in Maine high schools and middle schools.

As an administrator, he was dedicated to supporting student athletes at as many games and competitions as he could attend. He also knew that his mere presence would help keep even the most unruly student-spectator in line and set an example for good sportsmanship at the same time. His students consistently thanked him for his fairness, judgment, and ability to not only see, but bring out the best in each student. Whether it was turning a blind eye at the right time, or understanding who deserved a second chance, Mr. Hansen contributed positively to the lives of tens of thousands of young Mainers.

He will be remembered by his large loving family, including his surviving sister Marie Hansen Langenfeld; children, Christian III (Darlene) of Virginia, Gregg (Deborah) of Colorado, Michael (Elizabeth) of Auburn, ME and Heidi Flaherty (Peter) of Old Orchard Beach, ME. Walter and his memories will also be cherished by his 13 grandchildren, Christian IV and Samantha of Virginia, Pearl, Ross, Carl and Erica of Colorado, Shane and Heather of Texas, John, Amelia and Laura of Maine, Sean and Jennifer of Maine; and 17 great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife, Jacqueline; sisters Beatrice Furlong, Edith Sawyer and brother Everett.

Walter’s family is grateful for the Unit B nurses and staff at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough for their compassion and kindness to Walter and all veterans.

Friends and family will gather at Hobbs Funeral Home in Scarborough to celebrate Walter’s life on June 2. Visiting hours are from 4 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:

the Maine Veteran’s Home (information at mainevets.org/ways-to-give)