Harold (Hal) Bander

Tribute

Hal Bander, a man of sharp wit and industrial precision, passed away peacefully in Glendale, AZ, on January 11, 2026, at age 89. Born in Providence, RI, on August 26, 1936, Hal was an industrial engineer by training and a humorist by heart. He attended Brown University, graduated from the University of Rhode Island, and served his country in the Army and the RI National Guard. After beginning his career as a management consultant, he moved to Virginia Beach, VA, in 1973 as the Special Projects Officer for Stewart Sandwiches. He later found his professional home as a civil servant with the U.S. Navy, applying his analytical mind to commercial activities studies and teaching colleagues to master complex analyses. Hal was best known for his personal "Special Projects." In his workshop, he transformed engineering into art, creating "tangible puns" out of wood. One of his most memorable creations, the "Vowel Movement," was a mechanical device where the letters A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y danced in rhythmic patterns. Another was the “chick magnet,” a horseshoe magnet with miniature rubber duckies. His creative spark even led him to the stand-up stage: after a successful debut at a comedy club, he was invited back to emcee the following week. In his later years, Hal moved to Arizona with his wife and best friend, Janet. He became a fixture at Thunderbird Hospital, volunteering in the surgical waiting room. He believed that in moments of anxiety, small acts of "integrity and civility," like guiding a stranger to coffee or learning the correct pronunciation of a family’s name, were essential gifts. Hal would have found it poignant that Thunderbird provided his care at the end before his transition to hospice. Hal’s philosophy on life was captured in a book of wit he wrote at 80. In it, he poked irreverent fun at traditions like eulogies, noting that one would never see an obituary for someone who "passed away peacefully from a life he pissed away passively." Hal’s life was the opposite: defined by active curiosity and "Sundry Self-edification Activities." In a cruel twist of irony, a bureaucratic issue required the removal of the backyard shed that housed his woodworking shop just as a series of strokes began to interfere with his ability to recall the words he so cherished. Ever the engineer, Hal navigated this by meticulously recording eluded words the moment they returned to him later. Despite these losses, his spirit remained anchored in his designs. Those who knew him certainly learned the value of a sharp mind, a kind heart, and a life lived with both wit and purpose. As Hal loved to say, “All’s well that ends.” He leaves a testament of laughter, precision, and a world made better by his presence.

Friends & Family

He is survived by his beloved wife, Janet, and a large blended family: his children from his first marriage: Jim (Kassy) and Holly (Jim); his children and step-daughter from his second marriage: Jennifer (Jon), Michael (Tricia), and Scott (Jessica); and his step-children through Janet: Christine, Mike, and Jimmy. He also leaves behind twelve grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Tyler, Kylie, Lauren, Cole, Josh, Jacob, Jeremy, Willow, Chloe, Ethan, Ava, and Violet.