Rash's Surname Index
Notes for John Berne III HANNUM
Avon Grove Sun (PA) - May 3, 2007
Deceased Name: John Berne Hannum: Chester County mourns Hannum
John Berne Hannum, a prominent Chester County resident who served as a U.S. District Court judge for more than two decades, died on April 23 at Brooklawn in Unionville. He was 92.
"He had a magnificent life," said his son, John "Jock" Hannum Jr.
Judge Hannum was appointed to the U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania in 1969 by Richard Nixon. He served on the bench until he suffered a series of strokes in 1991.
He was a real heavyweight in judicial circles, according to attorney Bill Lamb, a friend and colleague of Judge Hannum, who also presented cases in his courtroom.
"When you were in his courtroom, there was no question who was in charge," Lamb said. "He was the boss."
Hannum was known for his meticulous preparation, and he demanded the same from the lawyers in his court. He demanded attorneys respect the court and be prepared for their clients, according to Jim McErlane, another attorney who argued cases before Judge Hannum.
"He was the essence of a gentleman," added McErlane.
Hannum was born in Chester on March 15, 1915, to Helen Weaver Hannum and John B. Hannum Jr. After graduating from the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, he attended Princeton University where he played freshman football, boxed and was a member of the Ivy Club.
He received his bachelor's degree from Franklin and Marshall College and then attended the Dickinson School of Law. While in law school, he married Nancy Penn Smith, who he met fox hunting, on Dec. 21, 1940. He graduated from Dickinson in June 1941.
After school, he served in the U.S. Navy as an officer. He commanded two patrol-craft emergency rescue vessels and was cited for his meritorious service in the Atlantic Theatre.
After the war he worked at his father's law firm in Media, and then in 1951 he joined what is now the Pepper Hamilton firm in Philadelphia, where he became a partner prior to his appointment to the bench.
Hannum had an active career in politics, serving as chairman of the Chester County Republican Party in the early 1960s. He was also a three-time delegate at the National Republican Convention in the 1950s and 1960s.
He was a vestryman at Christ Church in Philadelphia and enjoyed participating as a usher in the Good Friday service.
Judge Hannum was interested in environmental and conservation issues, his son said. He and his wife placed an easement on a 1,000-plus acre tract they owned to prevent it from being developed. He enjoyed his "marathon walks" on the weekends with his dogs through the Chester County countryside.
He is survived by his wife Nancy, their three children, nine grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.
A memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, at the Church of the Advent, 401 N. Union St., Kennett Square.
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