Halvor Peter Hansen, a professor of communication at University of the Pacific for three decades, died April 24 peacefully surrounded by family. He was 95.

At the age of 27, he earned a PhD from the University of Wisconsin. He taught at the University of Colorado, Montana State University and then concluded his career at Pacific from 1959 to 1990, when he retired as professor emeritus. He also served as chair of the Department of Communication.

“My office was across the hall from his and we saw each other on a daily basis,” said Carol Ann Hackley, professor emerita in communication. “I had so much respect for him in the classroom and with his involvement in his church and the community. He was a true gentleman and respected by students and colleagues.”

Hansen and his wife, Colleen, served three missions together for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were called as missionaries to serve in Pakistan. During that mission they also served in Singapore and Ipoh, Malaysia.

They later served in the Philippines as the area welfare agents. On their last mission, they were church-service missionaries at the Ensign College in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jon Schamber ’74, ’75 knew Hansen as both his professor and as a colleague.

“I had three classes with him and then taught alongside him when I returned to Pacific,” said Schamber, a professor and speech and debate coach at Pacific from 1980 to 2014. “Back in the 1970s he did very innovative work in intercultural communications when that field was just starting to grow. He was an outstanding professor and a very pleasant person.”

Hansen is survived by five children: Valerie, Marcia, Halvor Teague (Joni), Kevin Craig, and Kent Clyde (Tammy) in addition to 17 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by Colleen, his wife of 65 years, his parents, and his two brothers, Terrance Leslie and (Mick) Richard Clair.