Henry M. "Hank" Hambrecht, Jr.

Beloved Best Grandpa Ever

Henry "Hank" Hambrecht, Jr., 94, passed away on September 22, 2017. Hank was born on March 26, 1923 and raised in the Mid-West. He was the only child of Bess and Henry M. Hambrecht, Sr., a small business owner. He was a busy, active child who grew up surrounded by a large extended family and many friends. A lifelong sports fan, he excelled at sports himself, and even played semi-pro baseball and football for a time when he was young, and played golf until he was nearly 90.

Becoming a young man in the late 1930s and early 1940s, he spent time serving his country. He had the opportunity to travel around this country when he was in the Air Force and attended several universities. Traveling around this country became a passion of his and he spent every vacation he had, after he started his family, sharing this great land with his wife and daughter. He completed his undergraduate degree and eventually received his masters in education from the University of Minnesota.

After beginning his career as a teacher, Hank indulged his love of sports by coaching nearly every sport imaginable at one time or another, but enjoyed coaching basketball for Craddock High School in Portsmouth, VA, the most. Hank eventually made his way to Richmond and began working for the Virginia State Department of Education where he met the lovely young woman who would become his wife of 57 years, Phyllis.  Hank & Phyllis married in 1960.  In 1966, he became the principal of Stafford County High School in Fredericksburg, VA. He then relocated to Falls Church, VA with his wife and daughter, Beth, in 1968.  He ended his first career in education after many years as Assistant Principal of Thomas A. Edison High School in Springfield, VA. He had worked in education for nearly 40 years.  He absolutely loved teaching and mentoring kids and found great inspiration in their enthusiasm and energy. Amazingly, he never forgot a face.  He ran into students for decades after they graduated and always remembered them.

Hank began his next career upon his retirement, and amazingly logged in another 30 years working for Loudoun County Parks & Recreation in a variety of positions at Algonkian and Brambleton Golf Courses.  He always said that he got into it for the free golf, but stayed for the wonderful people he worked with.

After his retirement from his second career, Hank spent his time enjoying his family who certainly enjoyed him, as well.  Hank is survived by his wife, Phyllis D. Hambrecht, his daughter, Beth Hambrecht Francis, his son-in-law, Randy Francis and his three adoring granddaughters, Katie, Haley & Shannon Francis.

Family will receive friends between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Road NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 on Friday, September 29, 2017.  A memorial service to celebrate his wonderful life is scheduled to immediately follow starting at 2:00 pm.

If anyone wishes to make a donation in lieu of flowers, our family supports the Alzheimer's Foundation.  Donations can be made through the following link to our daughter Haley's sorority's Walk to End Alzheimer's donation page: http://act.alz.org/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app201a?pg=personal&px=11043029&fr_id=10176&NONCE_TOKEN=94BCE22223661BD0B3CE8C05B608C6F1