Henry William Monahan

In Loving Memory of Henry "Hank" W. Monahan

1935 – 2021

Hank Monahan, a proud Marine, accepted his final deployment to be with his Lord and Savior on January 8, 2021. He passed away at The Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA after a brief hospitalization from double pneumonia due to Covid-19. He declined to be intubated or put on a ventilator given the little chance of survival. Instead, he agreed to "compassionate care," provided in the hospital that kept him breathing comfortably and pain free. While visitation was not permitted due to Covid restrictions, a wonderful nurse helped him to speak to his family by phone and some with FaceTime. All four of his daughters and ten grandchildren, (steps included) and his wife, Rosalind, had an opportunity to speak words of love to him one last time on January 6th.

In 1935, Hank was born in Glenridge, NJ to Harry J. and Anna Monahan. He was raised as an only child. He spoke of a younger sister who died shortly after birth. Some of Hank's fondest childhood memories included tagging along with his father delivering packages for the Railway Express (the UPS and FedEx of that time) during the Christmas holidays and getting a quarter tip. He also followed baseball as a young boy and enjoyed attending games with his father. He acquired an extensive collection of baseball cards. In his adult years, he collected autographed baseballs. Hank, as a young adult, even had an opportunity to try out for the Detroit Tigers. His roommate during the tryouts was Al Kaline. Al got the job and Hank got a ticket home, a ballcap, and a great experience and memory.

Hank attended Montclair High School in Montclair, NJ where he became interested in basketball. He also covered sport stories for the high school newspaper.

In 1954, after enlisting, Hank was ordered to report to the Armed Forces for his physical exam for selective services. Next stop, boot camp at Perris Island where he joined Platoon 413.

A letter dated 1/25/1955 was sent to all the Marine's parents letting them know that if their Marine wrote a letter of complaint in the first few weeks it was usually because "they are undergoing a readjustment." By the third or fourth week they usually had "readjusted." "The goal of the military is perfection, nothing less. It is the never-ending effort to achieve the goal, which makes the Marine Corps a proud elite body of fighting men; ever ready and always faithful to the Country and the Corps they serve." This is how Hank lived his life.

In late 1954, Hank became interested in officiating basketball games. He submitted a letter of recommendation from Montclair High School to the Washington American League Basketball Club stating that Hank "…is of good moral character, has a contributing influence on others and is industrious…he is also dependable and conscientious." In January 1955, Hank received a letter from the Club's President, Vincent Del Farrell, acknowledging his interest in becoming an official along with a training schedule.

While being stationed at Cherry Point, NC, Corporal Monahan was "named to the All-Marine basketball team by coaches, players, and staff writers. Although he missed twenty-one games due to a virus and a pulled muscle, he participated in thirty-one contests for the Cherry Point, NC team and scored 559 points." Later, in his adult life, he did officiate basketball on a part-time basis.

Hank received an honorable discharge with a rank of Sergeant in May 1957. In August 1957, Hank was transferred to the Corps Reserve at Cherry Point, NC until September 9,1962.

Prior to his discharge in 1957, Hank married Janet Nicholson in NJ, the mother of his three amazing daughters: Kathy, Tara, and Megan. Later the family relocated to Charlotte, NC. In 1981 Janet and Hank separated and he moved to Artesia, CA. After the divorce, Hank met Rosalind and they were married in 1984. Hank gained and amazing stepdaughter, Sheri. They relocated to the Coachella Valley from Cerritos in 1989.

Education and Career: Hank attended Rutgers University and earned a B.A. in Business. His employment opportunities included working in the retail clothing industry, selling Prudential insurance, a radio disk jockey (the midnight shift), and in the plastics industry.

Hank's close friend from NJ, Dan Gracey, recalls meeting Hank in the summer of 1961 when he applied for a job at Robert Hall Clothes where Hank was the assistant manager. Their relationship grew even though Dan was eight years younger. "Hank loves sports and was at a disadvantage living in a house in Montclair with a wife, three daughters, an aunt, mother-in-law, his parents, and two female cats. No male bonding." The two friends bonded attending the Jets games together. When Hank spoke about Robert Hall, he used to boast about buying his girls dresses on sale and about how he hired eighteen-year-old Susan Lucci who became the star of All My Children.

Hank worked on the cutting edge of the plastics industry and worked for many different plastic corporations including, but not limited to 1968-1970 Exxon Plastics (Extrudo Film Corporation) as the Southern District Sales and Service Manager for plastic films; 1970-1971 Consolidated Thermoplastics (Division of El Paseo Products) Midwest Sales Manager; 1971-1978 Clopay Corporation as Southern Regional Manager; 1978-1981 Edison Plastics Company (Division of Blessings Corporation) as Director of Marketing.

In 1981, Hank moved to Artesia, CA where he and his long-time friend, Larry Shaver, previously from Clopay Corporation, started their own sales company, Medical Industrial Plastics Company (MIP).

In 1993, Larry and Hank also had the opportunity to start the Mulch Film Business for Edison Plastics on the West Coast. Dennis Sutton is credited for helping them get the mulch film business started.

A few years later, Hank and Larry started their own mulch film business, MIPCO AG (agriculture) Plastics Division which became a multimillion-dollar market. Larry credits their own success to the friendships from customers that trusted them and the high

quality of the products they represent. Hank never retired. Even in his last days, he was preparing a year-end report for the two businesses.

During their marriage, Hank and Roz had the opportunity to travel to many different countries while Hank was young enough to handle the rigorous tour schedules, always up early and on the move. Later, they settled into the making the pilgrimage to see the three daughters and their families on the east coast and New Years in Hawaii. Their scheduled timeshare week in Hawaii in 2020-2021 was canceled due to Covid.

As the years progressed, Hank was seeking new organizations to become involved with in his spare time. He was a member, until 2020 of the Palm Springs Commander de Bordeaux where he enjoyed drinking fine wine from France. Hank finally found his calling when he was invited to join the 1st Marine Division Association, Desert Cities Mitchel Page MOH Chapter. He soon became a member of the Board of Directors and the Chapter's Treasurer. One of the main duties of the Chapter is to raise monies to help support the families of the 7th Regiment at the Twenty-Nine Palms Marine Base. He volunteered to help with all Chapter projects including the Annual Palm Desert Golf Cart parade, MCJROTC graduation ceremonies, standing watch at Jensen's Markets during the Chapter's annual fund-raising drives, and organizing Chapter support for the 7th Regiment Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Even in his final days, prior to contracting Covid, Hank was soliciting donations at Jensen's in Palm Desert for the Chapter.

Hank believed God had granted him extra time following a quadruple bypass in 2019 and helping the Marines was his mission. Hank was also a member of the Tun Tavern Club, where the former and retired Marines and Navy Seaman could socialize and talk about the good old days. Hank was also the Chaplin of the Marine Corps League.

Hank had a big philanthropic heart. He was an "Uncle" to the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center (BSCS) for abused children. He donated to The Eisenhower Medical Center (EMC). He credited the hospital staff for saving his life many times. Over the years, he supported the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, The Special Olympics, the Waring International Piano Competition, The Living Desert, Find Food, and many more charitable organizations.

Hank was a man of integrity, humor, and compassion. He loved talking to people and never met a stranger. He will be remembered by his family as a fair, honest, generous, and supporting father to his daughters and stepdaughter and to his grandchildren and step-grandchildren. His family fondly remembers his love of singing along with Sinatra as the "Hank and Frank" duet. Roz recalls how early in their marriage Hank was disappointed that her bank register did not balance to the exact penny or even close. She made it clear, "Just keep enough money in the account so that checks don't bounce, and the problem will be solved." He shared with her as recently as in 2020 that he loved her independence. While she did not take orders from a Marine, he was allowed to forever own her heart!

He loved life, he loved his family fiercely, he loved his wife with his whole heart, but he loved the Lord most of all. He is survived by his wife, Rosalind, of 36 years; his daughters Kathy McAbee (Gene) and their children Anna, Melissa, and Kevin; Tara

Schoenauer (Tom in memoriam) and their children Katelyn and Allison; Megan Brown (Tim) and their children Emily and Olivia; and stepdaughter Sheri Walton (Jimmy) and Sheri's children Matthew, Nicole, and Jimmy's daughter Madison.

You are asked to remember Hank through acts of kindness, large and small, to make this world a better place. Suggested donations may be made to the 1st Marine Division Desert Cities (full name listed above 760-901-5494), the BSCS, or the EMC.

. Hank was laid to rest on February 5th at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside with Marine Corps honors.