Bob Hanrahan, owner of Delaware Hearing Aids for more than 40 years, passed away at age 85 on January 19.

Bob—he never let anyone call him Mr. Hanrahan—was born in Rockville Centre, NY, grew up on Long Island and served in the Navy during World War II.

He went to Delaware in 1960, and for more than 40 years he served the hearing impaired at Delaware Hearing Aids, in Wilmington, where he continued to work full time until he became ill a few months ago. A three-sport athlete at Malvern High School, Bob took up distance running at age 50, and over the next 20 years he ran more than 30 marathons—including Boston, New York City, Washington, DC, and his favorite, the "Grandma’s Marathon" in Duluth, Minn, which he ran seven times in support of The Run for Better Hearing, which was cosponsored in the 80s and 90s by the Better Hearing Institute and Hearing Instruments/The Hearing Review.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carol, and his three sons, Michael, Terry, and Timothy, and daughter-in-law, Joann; his grandchildren: Colin Meaghan, Kieran, Kerry, Brendan, and Connor; his brother and sister-in-law, Arthur and Joan Hanrahan; his sister, Elizabeth Murphy; and several nieces and nephews.

“Anyone who ever met or talked with Bob, instantly recognized him as an intelligent and caring man who had a great passion for the hearing healthcare field and for helping those with hearing loss,” said Karl Strom, editor of HR. As his colleagues pointed out, Bob had many sayings, one of them being: "If you take good care of the hearing impaired, they will take good care of you." The fact that Bob’s business flourished for 40 years was testimony to Bob’s commitment to treat each customer with complete honesty, integrity, and respect.

Bob was a private person, and at his request, there will be no funeral services. He did good deeds quietly and wanted no recognition for them. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Delaware School for the Deaf, 630 Chestnut Hill Road, Newark, DE 19713.

For online condolences,  visit Chandler Funeral Homes and Crematory at chandlerfuneralhome.com.