Edward Roland Hammond Jr. died after a long illness, at Mount Greylock Nursing Home in Pittsfield, on September 22. He was 77.
Edward was born December 13, 1933, in Brockton, the son of the late Edward Roland Hammond and Helen Dorothy Hammond of Hanover. He grew up in Hanover, where he graduated from Hanover High School in 1951. He went on to post-graduate school at Wilbraham Academy and graduated in 1952. He then went to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and graduated as a marine engineer in 1955.
Edward married the late Elizabeth (Betsy) Amazeen of Hanover in 1956, and after a short career as an engineering officer on tankers owned by Gulf Oil and American Trading and Product Tankers, he was then commissioned in United States Navy Reserve, where he served for 10 years. His U. S. Navy assignments included tours of duty on the USS Washburn, USS Epping Forest, Boston Naval Shipyard, USS Miller, U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the U. S. Naval Shipyard in Charleston, S.C. He completed his full-time reserve commission duties as a lieutenant commander in 1966.
After his time in the Navy, Edward and Betsy settled in Hanover and later purchased the Mill Pond Rest Home in 1970. Along with Betsy and his son Peter, Edward ran the business until he retired in 2004. In 2004, Edward then moved to Plymouth and earlier this year moved out to Pittsfield.
During his years in Hanover, Edward was involved in many activities and groups. He served on the board of health for many years and helped implement and design one of the first active waste “transfer stations” in the region. He was also very active in Hanover youth sports and coached little league and Babe Ruth baseball for many years. He was also active in the Republican town committee.
Edward spent many summers enjoying his family and friends on Martha’s Vineyard, at the family’s summer cottage in the Oak Bluffs Campground. Friends and family will remember fondly the Fourth of July celebrations he and Betsy hosted. In addition, he and Elizabeth enjoyed many winters in Florida.
Edward enjoyed sports and had a great fondness for the Red Sox and Patriots. During his time in high school and at the Maritime Academy, Edward excelled in football, basketball and baseball. Edward also had a love for golf. And, he played bridge with Betsy and his friends and was a member of the Hanover Bridge Club for many years.
Edward was very proud of his maritime career with the U.S. Navy, and he also became very active with his fellow Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates, attending and organizing many reunions. He later volunteered his time in the admissions office at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and as volunteered his time at the Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center, and the Bourne Senior Center.
His wife, Elizabeth, in 2000 and his son, Peter, predeceased Edward in 2006. He is survived by his son Edward (Ted) and Susan Hammond of Campton, N.H., Lisa and Michael (Nick) Carvalho of Pittsfield, and Andrew A. Hammond of Edgartown. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Amy and Zac McCormack of Campton, N.H., Jeffrey and Stephanie Carvalho of Pittsfield, and Charlotte, Malcolm, and Tessa Hammond of Edgartown. Edward also leaves several nieces and nephews.
There will be a celebration of Edward’s life at the home of Nancy and John Goldthwait, on the corner of Main and Cedar Streets in Hanover, on Saturday, October 1, at noon. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Massachusetts Maritime Foundation in Edward’s name and class (1955). Donations may be made online at www.maritime.edu or by check to: MMAF, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-3405.
