Jean M. HAMMOND

HAMMOND, Jean M.

Jean Marguerite Hammond, 96, of West Hartford died peacefully on November 3, 2013 at Hartford Hospital, surrounded by family members. She was born in Youngstown, OH on August 19, 1917, daughter of Jesse and Lillian (Groman) Jones. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 58 years, Charles R. Hammond in 2004. Jean leaves her elder son Robert and his wife Gayle of Newtown, CT, her granddaughter Laura Stock, MD and her husband Wesley Stock of Chicago, IL, a grandson Gregg of Norwalk, CT and her younger son Philip Hammond of San Francisco, CA. She attended public schools in Youngstown, OH graduating from high school at the age of 16. She graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University in 1938 with a BA degree in Language. Jean was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society in 1938. From 1938 through 1943 she taught English, French and Latin in the New Waterford, OH school system. Being deeply patriotic, Jean joined the U.S. Army in the Women's Army Corps in 1943 where she was accepted into the Officers Candidate School and quickly rose to First Lieutenant, serving during World War II in military intelligence in Washington, DC until the end of the War. Jean met her to be husband, Charles, in Washington, DC (formerly of Los Angeles and Table Grove, IL) who was working for the Naval Ordinance Laboratory. In November, 1946 they were married. After their wedding, they moved to Hartford where Charles accepted employment at the Hartford Empire Company (Emhart). She remained a devoted housewife and homemaker for much of her life in Connecticut. Jean enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, reading, playing bridge and hearts, scrabble and board games, traveling frequently throughout the U.S. and much of the world, and spending the warmer months at their seasonal cabin in East Hartland, CT. She loved reading the New York Times, the Courant, following politics, UConn Men's Basketball, was very involved in church affairs, and volunteering with numerous service and charitable organizations. She was a dedicated member of the First Church of Christ Congregational in West Hartford for over 65 years. Up until recently, she went to local libraries weekly to obtain books and frequently read one book a day, being particularly fond of biographies and those about history. In 1958 Jean won the West Hartford Noah Webster 200th Birthday Spelling Bee. As a loving mother, grandmother and friend, Jean will be truly missed by her family and remaining friends. The family gives special thanks to Mike Bracken who lived with Jean in her home and provided her with exceptional care and companionship over the past 4 years.
A celebration of her life will be held at a date in the future. Contributions may be made in her name to the First Church of Christ Congregational, 12 South Main St. in West Hartford.