Nicholas John Hanna
March 19, 1933 - October 25, 2021
Visitation: Thursday 6-8 p.m. & Friday 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at Devlin Funeral Home Inc. Ross Twp.
Service: Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, St. Sebastian Church, Saturday 10:30 a.m.
NICHOLAS JOHN HANNA, PH.D
Nicholas John Hanna passed from this mortal world on October 25, 2021. Born on March 19, 1933 , the Feast of St. Joseph, to Amelia Joseph and Nicholas John Hanna in Altoona, PA
Nick earned his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Penn State University. He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 1970.
He began his career in 1970 at Duquesne University as Professor and Coordinator of Counselor Education for 41 years, retiring in 2011. During his years at Duquesne, he served both masters and doctoral students in the areas of school and community counseling, marriage and family, and at the PH.D level, training in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Dr. Hanna made a marked influence on the many students he served throughout his tenure at Duquesne. His impact was also experienced by students through auxiliary programs, including The Human Dynamics Workshops, Relationships With Fathers, Father-Son and Father-Daughter programs, Gestalt Training, and the dynamic Open Your Heart sessions.
In 2000, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Counselors Association, and an achievement he also received later in his career. Dr. Hanna was the only person to receive this honor twice. In March 2007, he received the Outstanding Group Work Practice award at the American Counselor Association at their annual conference in Detroit, Michigan.
In addition to his experiences in the field of counseling, Dr. Hanna was a lover of poetry, writing an annual Christmas poem for each of 62 years. Family and friends looked forward to receiving them. The Prayer of St. Francis inspired him to publish a book of Reflections in 2019.
Nick was a veteran of the Korean War. He was also an expert in being able to communicate with American Sign Language among his many talents.
Dr. Hanna enjoyed winters in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he conducted Men’s Groups for many years at the Church of the Epiphany in Ormond Beach. Nick, who spent a year studying for the priesthood at the Franciscan Friars of Atonement in Garrison, New York, is a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel St. Sebastian parish in Pittsburgh. His spiritual life was very important to him.
Nick was very proud of his Middle Eastern heritage with its Palestinian and Lebanese family roots. He made several trips to the Holy Land to walk in the paths of his family and to experience the historical and spiritual presence of Jesus.
Nick leaves his wife of 56 years, Sylvia Kattouf Hanna, daughter, Sophia Mooney (BoB), and son, Damian (Nicole). He had seven grandchildren, Chloe (Jordan), Nathan, Aubrey, Brian, Tierney, Lachlan Hanna and Sierra Mooney. He was anticipating the arrival of his first great grandchild. He was fondly called PO or Shiddu by his grandchildren.
Dr. Hanna also leaves behind his special nieces, Karen (Frank) Kauffman, and Kim (Lynn) Vandevander. Nephews Mark and Steven (Tammy) Hanna, and many cousins, colleagues and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Betty (Kenneth)Kuny, and brother George (Sylvia ) Hanna.
Thank you to the staff at St. John’s Senior Care Home in Mars, PA for their great care in helping Nick in the past few months.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Hanna’s name may be made to The Palestinian Children’s Relief (PCRF)Fund P.O. Box 1926 Kent, Ohio 44240-9939, or to The Light of Life Rescue Mission , 234 Voeghtly St. Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Visitation will be at Devlin Funeral Home, 806 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15229 on Thursday, October 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and Friday October 29, 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM Saturday in St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, 311 Siebert Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Father John Rushofsky, celebrant.
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I am blessed to know the Hanna family and pray for comfort in their loss of husband ,father, grandfather Nick. To the professional and church community his generosity with time and talents was used by the Lord to change many lives and illustrate the concept of a mans life that was dedicated to Him. May he rejoice in the impact he had by Gods grace in this life with great peace and joy in eternal life
To a man that asked me to stay after class one night so we could talk. That night changed the course of my life. Thank you for going above. Thank you for being levels above the norm. Thank you for taking the time. Thank you for your laughter, joy, brightness, and awesome smile that you shined onto all of us that entered Canevin Hall. We all came in one way and am certain all left so much better. I will always hold you in my heart ❤️ To Dr. Hanna’s family- You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
The consummate teacher – by word, by action, by choosing not to take action. A part of you lives on in all who were fortunate to have known you. I am blessed to have been one such person. Thank you. Rest and enjoy your eternal reward.
Nick Hanna showed an interest in my journey discerning my calling to be a counselor. He welcomed me into his office and showed by his words and body language that our time together was “sacred,” as he said, and enjoyable to him as well. I felt that I could talk to him about anything. He modeled a forthright kind open disposition that has served as an inspiration to me as a counselor. He also helped me to make the most of my sense of being called to incorporate the sacred honor of being a counselor as I integrated it with a calling to serve as a priest. I believe that my ministry has also been enhanced by the blessing of how Dr. Hanna modeled enthusiastic, generous, open-hearted and open-minded mentoring, leadership, counseling and being true to our values and personal beliefs. I am grateful to God for how Dr. Hanna’s work has been able to have an influence on mine.
I was honored to have Dr. Hanna as a professor, and he epitomized what a teacher should be. He was kind, humorous, intelligent, and stressed the importance of accepting ourselves (flaws and all ).
You will be missed Dr.Hanna! God Bless!
I am so saddened by the passing of Dr. Hanna. He meant so much to me in my personal life and professional growth as a counselor. Please accept my heartfelt condolences and love as you grieve the loss of this wonderful man.
Dr Hanna was one of my counseling professors at Duquesne over a decade ago. He challenged and encouraged me at a time when i almost left the program, and for that I will always be profoundly grateful. His sense of humor and commitment to the practice of counseling is something I will always remember. I’m so very sorry for your loss, and I join you from afar in celebrating his life!