Howard A. Halligan

Howard Ansel “Hanse” Halligan, 89, of Manchester, Vermont, died November 8, 2026 at Rutland Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.

Hanse was born in Glen Ridge, NJ on August 11, 1937 and graduated from Montclair High School (1955), Williams College (1959), and Columbia University Graduate School of Business (1961).

After business school, Hanse began his professional career at Connecticut General Life Insurance, which later became the CIGNA Corporation. From 1961 to 1987, Hanse served in many roles, including President of the CIGNA Investment Management Company, the CIGNA Mutual Fund Group, and the Parkway Group of Mutual Funds.

After many successful and fulfilling years at CIGNA, Hanse was pleased to join Bigler Investment Management (partially acquired by Crossroads in 1996), where he served as President and Chief Investment Officer (CIO). During this time, Hanse also maintained an active role on the Alternative Asset Investment Committee of the Williams College Endowment Fund and the Finance Committee of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA.

Shortly after his retirement from Crossroads, Hanse was recruited by the co-founders of Fairview Capital Partners to run Fairview Venture Management. When he finally retired for good, he was honored by Fairview Capital with an established scholarship at Williams College in his name and honor.

Hanse was a lifelong golf enthusiast who competed at a high level across many decades. Starting with a win at the New Jersey State Junior Championship (1954), he continued to play competitive golf at Williams College and later at the Hopmeadow Country Club in Simsbury, CT and the Dorset Field Club and Ekwanok Country Club in southern Vermont, winning multiple club championships.

He was also devoted to his family (which included three children, ten grandchildren, and six great grandchildren) and bragged about them at every opportunity. Hanse particularly enjoyed supporting the communities that he and his family were a part of, both as a volunteer and as a donor.

Hanse was predeceased by his wife Barbara McConchie Halligan in 2007 and his daughter-in-law Whitney Elizabeth Halligan in 2013. He is survived by his children, David Halligan (Ann LeBeau), Barbara Fisher (Lewis Fisher), and Elizabeth Halligan (Robert DiAngelo); grandchildren Campbell, Devin, Colby, Kieran, Rory, Geff, Holly, James, Connor, and Claire; and great grandchildren Henry, Weston, Harper, Finley, Amelia, and Scottie. He is also survived by his sister Kimmie McCann and her two children, Allison and Ian.

As per his wishes, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Burr and Burton Academy (BBA) in Manchester, VT, or the Howard A. Halligan 1959 Scholarship Fund at Williams College.