William Howard Hansell Jr., of Lower Macungie Township, died June 4, 2013, after a brief but courageous battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

He was the husband of Concetta "Connie" (Raiti) Hansell. They were married for 51 years.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Alice and Bill Hansell.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he held a bachelor of science degree in economics from the Wharton School and a master of governmental administration from the Fels Institute.

He served as a local government manager in Catasauqua and South Whitehall Township and as business administrator for the City of Allentown.

He also served as executive director for the Pennsylvania Municipal League. He taught courses on local government as vice president for Business Management at the University of Scranton and director of the Management Studies Program at Cedar Crest College.

The pinnacle of his professional career was his 20-year service as executive director for the International City/County Management Association in Washington, DC.

He launched the ICMA University, dedicated to advancing the profession through learning and skills enhancement and expanded programs through affiliations with 16 international associations.

He was instrumental in developing the Center for Public Administration Service Partnership and started a tradition of exhibiting artwork donated by host cities of the annual ICMA Conference.

In retirement, he continued to support local government as a consultant, a Lehigh County commissioner, and most recently as Lehigh County executive.

He served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the Allentown Symphony Association, the Lehigh County Historical Society, the Pennsylvania Stage Company and the Arlington County Commission for the Arts.

He and his wife were owners of Hansell Enterprises and producers of the Shepherd Hills Dinner Theatre, where he acted as emcee and performed in many productions.

He is the recipient of the Fels Institute Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Distinguished Service Award from the International City/County Management Association, and was named Brigham Young University's Public Administrator of the Year.

He served for one year as president of the National Newman Club Federation. He was also a trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation and a board member of the National Academy of Public Administration.

He is survived by his wife; son William Howard III; daughter Jeanne and her husband Michael Decatur Robertson; daughter-in-law Ursula Grogan; grandchildren Katharine Leigh Robertson, William Howard Hansell IV, Lauren Grace Robertson, and Connor Michael Robertson; brothers and sisters-in-law, David and Susanne Hansell, Raymond and Mary Sue Hansell, Frank and Stephanie Raiti, and Joseph Raiti; nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; father-in-law Joseph Raiti; and sister-in-law Marie Green.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. July 26, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexer Ave., Allentown.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ICMA Hansell Fund to provide scholarships for professional development, 777 N. Capitol St, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202; or to a charity of one's choice.

Arrangements were made by the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown.