David Galen Hasson

Birth: December 6, 1939 | Died: March 26, 2024

84 years ago, on December 6, 1939, in Santa Ana, California, David Galen Hasson, a kind and brilliant lifelong learner, was born to Virginia Lee (Williams) Hasson and Albert Nolan Hasson. David contracted polio as a toddler, but led a full and active life until post-polio syndrome impacted his later years.

David attended schools all over the United States since his father was in the Air Force. He repeatedly began school years knowing no one, but would have many friends before he left each school to begin again.

David had a wide variety of skills and interests. In high school David was a volunteer for the Ground Observer Corps of the USA where he performed duties such as a track data clerk, and he was in the Civil Air Patrol. In 1955 and 1956, he meticulously recorded pages of pilot flight records in various classifications of aircraft.

David enjoyed Long Beach State College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, a Master of Science Degree, and a teaching credential. In 1974 he was selected as an Outstanding Secondary Educator of America, “in recognition of contributions to the advancement of secondary education and service to community.” David earned a degree of Doctor of Philosophy of micro-computer systems in 1983.

David spent the majority of his teaching career at El Dorado High School in Placentia, teaching at El Dorado from 1966 until his retirement in 2000. Over the years, David taught 26 different subjects, ranging from history to computers to typing.

David earned a variety of certificates and honors, such as Basic Seamanship for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Apple Computer Service Training, 3B2 System Administration from AT&T, Outstanding Achievement in Academic Technology, Certificate of Recognition for “numerous years of dedicated service to the youth of our community” given by the City of Placentia, Certificate de Asistencia, grado intermedio de Universidad de Zaragoza, and an Open Water PADI Dive Certification.

The certificates that gave David the most joy were his certificate of Rite of Reception at St. Joseph Catholic Church, his certificate of First Communion, and his certificate of Confirmation. David earned these certificates on December 23, 2015. He waited until he was sure this was truly his faith, and he fully embraced it, making Jesus the center of his life.

David met Mary Cummiskey as she was out walking her cocker spaniel, Buff. David told people that he knew that day that he would marry Mary. They shared their schedules, and soon afterwards Mary would see him at the library where she would study, at church, and waiting for her when her last class of the day was dismissed. Mary did not know that he rode his bicycle from Long Beach State College to her family home in Huntington Beach to be able to meet her at her classroom door so he could carry her books and walk her home. This became his daily routine.

David and Mary married on August 22, 1962, at Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Huntington Beach. They bought a home in Huntington Beach, and moved to Placentia when he decided he would stay with the Placentia Unified School District. They were blessed with two children, David Paul and Maura.

David and Mary loved spending time with their children. They traveled with them to many locations including the California Missions, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Hawaii, as well as out of the country to Canada and Mexico. There were many family camping trips, including hiking, back packing, skiing, and water skiing. Sharing the love for travel and adventure continued with grandchildren and great grandchildren and included trips near and far, such as: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Alaska, Mexico, Iceland, the Caribbean, and Ireland.

David was an avid photographer and loved taking photos of his family and travel sites. He photographed some of his grandchildren’s sports teams, including soccer, basketball, and baseball. He was an Indian Guide leader for his son, David.

A large part of David's life was giving freely of his time and talents. He volunteered in Placentia-Yorba Linda School District's libraries, classrooms, and especially in his wife, Mary’s, classroom, offering his computer and photography skills and assisting with numerous clerical jobs. At St. Joseph Church in Placentia, David assisted with parish photo albums, greeted people, made name tags for the Senior Forum, accompanied Mary on countless trip to the homebound, assisted in the bereavement ministry, co-hosted a Growing in Faith Together group, participated in daily prayer groups, and more.

Bible Study Classes were a weekly highlight for David. He attended mass regularly until recently when he was grateful that St. Joseph Church live-streamed masses, which he watched daily.

David is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; his children, David Paul Hasson and his wife Tanja; Maura Gleason and her husband Chuck; his grandchildren, Anna Gaither and her husband Kevin; Rebecca Jaderquist and her husband Darien; Riley Gleason, and Zoe Gleason; his great grandchildren, Kenzie Gaither, Cailyn Gaither, and Hazel Jaderquist; and his siblings, Walter Snyder and his wife Sarah; Martha Willits and her husband Mark.

If you choose to honor David, you could do a good deed in his name, complete an organ donation card, pray, or make a donation to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Placentia, Catholic Relief Services, or Children International.

Thank you to all who have appreciated and loved David through his years on this earth and those who have shown his survivors love after he left this world. We hold in our hearts the memories of his consistent kindness, gentleness, joy, sense of humor, and goodness, and the memories many of you have shared with us.