Remembered as a keeper of the “good of the order” for those who needed that guidance in life or education, or a simple helping hand from the community, and a lover of the Rolling Stones, Guillermo Hansen was laid to rest Friday following a moving service at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.
Hansen, 65, the loving husband of Yolanda and doting father to children Yanin and Bryan, passed away on July 1. He founded El Osceola Star newspaper, the first such Spanish-language media in the area. He founded the Hispanic Business Council of the Osceola Chamber of Commerce, and was a pilar of local events that showcased the Hispanic community like Viva Osceola and the Chamber’s Three Kings Day event. In recognition of the enormous contributions he has made to both the Chamber of Commerce and the community throughout the course of 2019, he was honored with its very first Unity Award.
Yanin Hansen spoke for the family Friday, noting how special he was to those close to him.
“We can see he was special to many other people as well,” she said. “People were drawn to him as he was planning the next business to move forward, the next barriers to break down, which he did for many people.
“Having him as a father was also very special. He gave my mother, brother and me an enchanting life, he loved music, dancing and parties. He loved to have a great time and enjoyed life immensely. He made use of all his time here.”
Gov. Rick Scott, from all the way in Tallahassee, appointed Hansen to the Valencia College Board of Trustees in 2012. Dr. Kathleen Plinske, now the president of Valencia College, met Hansen early in her leadership tenure at its Osceola campus.
“He immediately took me under his wing,” she said. “He made me feel welcome and introduced me to many leaders in Osceola County. He opened tremendous doors for me, as he did for many of our students.”
One of Hansen’s marks was a persistence that led him to advocate for Valencia students, “Time, and time, and time again,” Plinske said.
“He wanted nothing more than to create opportunities for students and would not let bureaucracy stand in the way,” she said. “I never met someone who derived so much joy from awarding scholarships. He was the biggest champion for Valencia this community has ever known.”
She spoke to his bond with Yolanda, who would often attend the dinners that preceded the Valencia trustee meetings, and saw how they’d finish each other’s sentences.
Osceola County Commissioner Peggy Choudhry shared a story, before her political career when she and her family operated a West 192 hotel, of a person willing to go above and beyond to help those in the community – using his deep ties in the local tourism industry as a springboard.
“At a time when my family was struggling, he said, ‘Peggy, we’re going to go to Miami, and there’s people there who will help you.’ It was a trip that was a turning point for my business. Guillermo’s guidance was instrumental for paving the way for our success. He continued to encourage me every step of the way when I talked about running for office.”
In lieu of flowers, well-wishers can donate to the non-profit Amigos Helping Amigos Scholarship Fund.
