Robert K Hammond

Robert Kempson Hammond Robert Kempson Hammond, 71, died peacefully April 25, 2014 in University Place. Bob was born July 3, 1942 to Charles John Kempson Hammond and Dorothy May Estelle Coy in Quincy, MA. He spent his boyhood in Quincy and North Weymouth, where his hobby was building and flying model airplanes. Following his 1960 graduation from Weymouth High School, he studied engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, worked a co-op internship at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI, and then transferred to The University of Michigan, where he met his wife, Mary Ellen Ward, also a UM student. They were married in December 1966. In 1967 Bob graduated from UM with his B.A. in Psychology, then returned to UM earn his Secondary Teachers Certificate in 1968. From 1968-1970, Bob taught chemistry and physics at Adrian (MI) High School. In 1970, he and Mary moved to University Place, WA, where for the next 20 years he taught math, physical science, and rocketry at Curtis Jr. High. Upon arriving in Tacoma, Bob and Mary joined the Tahoma Audubon Society and the Tacoma Mountaineers, where Bob took the Basic Mountaineering course before summiting 3 of the 6 major peaks in WA. He also took up whitewater kayaking, serving as President the Washington Kayak Club in the mid-1970s and lobbying the WA State Legislature for the preservation of Wild & Scenic Rivers. Sundays, he began crewing for sailing races off Pt. Defiance. He loved being outdoors, especially in or on the water.. In 1978 Bob was diagnosed with polymyositis. Despite debilitating muscle weakness and permanent damage to his lungs and heart, he continued to teach for another 10 years, finally taking disability retirement in 1988. In his retirement, he worked in his garden, assumed many of Marys cooking duties, and patiently taught his daughter to drive. Unable to kayak, he time-shared assorted sailboats, and the family enjoyed many cruises between Tacoma and the San Juan Islands. Even as his health deteriorated in recent years, Bob always kept a positive attitude. Although his lung capacity, his world and his range of activities grew smaller, he never expressed any bitterness. He was contented to watch the hummingbirds feed on his Heuchera coral bells and Crocosmia Lucifer, and to have two small bowls of spumoni ice cream after dinner every night. Bob is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Jennifer Hammond (Pat Skipper), and grandchildren Jack and Amy Skipper; and by his brother David J. Hammond, in Massachusetts. A private memorial service is planned.