John B. “Yo” Hannan

John B. “Yo” Hannan, 76, of many places, passed away on July 9, 2026.  Known to many as “Yo”, his friends called him quirky, unique, opinionated, and unforgettable. He could look intimidating, but those who knew him found him to be a kind and gentle soul.

He grew up in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood with his parents, Tom and Victoria (Furno); his brothers, Tom and Tim; and his sister, Caroline. The true loves of his life were his wife and partner, Carol (Howe) and his daughter, Rowan.

As a child, Yo contracted polio and spent many months being treated in the iron lung at Pittsburgh Municipal Hospital under care of Dr. Jonas Salk. In high school, he toyed with the idea of becoming a priest (for the easy life) and did a brief stint at Bishop’s Latin School before finishing at St. Justin’s High School, where he made many lifelong friends. His strict Catholic schooling often resurfaced when a newscaster used improper grammar. He would shake his head and remark, “It’s their only job.”

During the Vietnam War, John served in the U.S. Air Force and used his skill with languages to become a Vietnamese translator with the 6994th Security Squadron. He flew many missions in his favorite aircraft, the EC-47, and later enjoyed yearly reunions with his squadron.

After his military service, he attended community college for IT and then motorcycle mechanics school in Florida before settling on the profession he loved as a Steamfitter with UA Local 449. He combined his skills as a steamfitter with his love of diving to become a commercial diver, navigating Pittsburgh’s rivers with Vince Hammill on the sternwheeler Katie H. Through his connections working on the river, he had the rare opportunity to bring towboats all the way up the Mississippi and Tombigbee rivers from Texas to Pittsburgh.

Yo led an interesting life and followed his passions wherever they led. He loved snow skiing and scuba diving, often sharing those adventures with his wife Carol. Together, they traveled the world, eventually falling in love with Australia during a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and decided to make their home in Sydney. For many years they enjoyed sampling the beer in pubs and playing trivia with friends.  Later, work took his family to The Netherlands where they enjoyed Dutch culture in The Hague before returning to where they started in Pittsburgh.

Of all his passions, motorcycles stood above the rest. His garage was always full of Harleys, BMWs, Triumphs, Guzzis, and a rotating cast of “projects.” He always had a rally or poker run to attend, and he rode his motorcycles back and forth across the USA and Australia many times. His unique ‘biker look’ even got him cast in the movie Striking Distance.  In everything he did, he only knew one speed: fast! Much to Yo’s surprise and delight, he found out he was a father at 47 while backpacking around the world. His daughter, Rowan, was born during a brief stint in California and grew up playing in the nose of his sidecar. She made him the proudest papa ever.

In his later years, he loved spending time at his friend Red’s house in Florida, searching for his beloved Astrovans, reading science-fiction, watching the birds, and smoking his cigars. He will live on in our memories and the small moments he leaves behind – the sound of a motorcycle passing by or scent of cigar smoke in the air. Hopefully his best friend, the Big E, is there to greet him for his next journey.

An Irish Wake is being planned by family and internment will be at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.

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