John L. Hanks, owner of King James Center in Chatham, Dies at 74

John L. Hanks, 74, of New York, NY and Rumson, NJ, passed away on August 9, 2014, at his home in Rumson, NJ, after a brief, valiant battle against lung cancer.

Born in Staten Island, NY, and raised on the West Coast, John had an illustrious professional career spanning significant public service for the City of New York; as an educator through his tenure as Professor of Law and Associate Dean at the Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he was a founding faculty member; as his volunteer service as a board member of the Art Students League of New York, and as a successful business leader and owner of a long-term care facility, King James Care Center of Chatham, NJ.

John holds a B.S. degree from Rutgers University’s College of Engineering; a J.D. Degree from Rutgers University School of Law, where he was Research Editor of the Rutgers Law Review; a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and a Master of Laws degree from Columbia University School of Law.

Among the many accomplishments during his public service career, John served as Director of Franchises for the City of New York. In that capacity, he provided testimony to the U.S. Senate regarding the affects of vertical and horizontal integration and consolidation that was then taking place in the cable industry. Of particular note is John’s service as Special Master from 1980-1988, appointed by Federal District Court Judge Robert L. Carter to oversee the financing, design and construction of two sewage treatment plants in New York City. This complex project was managed on time and under budget. A community park atop one of the sewage treatment plants alongside the Hudson River, serving the Harlem community, is a lasting testament to John’s success in this role.

John is the author of numerous publications in Franchising Law and the Regulation of Cable Television. He is also the author of the publication, “On a Just Measure of the Efficiency of Law and Governmental Policies.”

After his service to the City of New York and Cardozo Law School, John focused on ensuring the highest quality of care at the King James Care Center of Chatham and his life-long passion as an artist.

John’s generosity with his friends and family expressed itself most importantly in his capacity to listen, analyze and advise.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Fran Condon, his brother Dan and his sister Florence.

A wake will be held at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, NJ on August 13, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Service to be held at Church of the Nativity, Fair Haven, NJ on August 14 at 11 a.m. Donations, in lieu of flowers, should be made to the NY Botanical Garden where a bench will be dedicated in John’s name. Contact Lisa Sifre at lsifre@nybg.org for details on how to give.