Robert K. Hammann

Robert K. Hamman, a longtime Acton resident, passed away Thursday December 26, 2013 in the Kaplan House in Danvers. He was 87 years old. He was the husband of the late Sally Hammann who passed away in 1991. He was the beloved father of five and grandfather of seven. Mr. Hammann was born in Orange, New Jersey, to John Samuel Krause and Jeanette (King) Hammann in 1926. He was raised in New Jersey while his father worked as a pioneer in sales for NBC Radio in NYC. Mr. Hammann graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy before being appointed to attend the United States Naval Academy (USNA). As a distinguished graduate of the USNA in 1948, he was commissioned as a naval officer. Following WWII, he served aboard the destroyer, the USS Holder, and was a pilot/flight engineer of P2V aircraft. He also taught at Officers Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, RI. He started his lifelong career as an electrical engineer at Polaroid in Cambridge, MA, where he met his future wife, Sally. They married in 1955 and also lived in NH and MD | where Bob worked at GTE Sylvania and the Electronics Industry Association (EIA) - before settling in Acton in 1972. Bob was devoted to family and service, both locally and nationally. He enjoyed traveling with his family, especially to the national parks, islands and seashores. His love of the water was life long | from childhood summers on the Jersey Shore to sailboat racing in Marblehead. As a father and grandfather, Bob deeply touched our hearts and broadened our minds in gentle and selfless ways. He was always the first to help others. In Acton, Bob was commended by the Acton Congregational Church for 38 years of broad-ranging service. He was also an officer in the Acton Historical Society. He had a keen intellect and never-ending desire to learn and to expand his own horizons | whether it was classical music or historical biographies. Our family dogs also brought joy to his heart and a big smile to his face. Bob Hammann is survived by his daughter Lisa Soroka and her husband James of Redondo Beach, CA; his daughter Sarah Hammann of San Francisco, CA; his daughter Catherine Kruithoff and her husband Wayne of Biddeford Pool, ME: his son Robert Hammann, Jr. and his wife Linda of Falls Church, VA; and his daughter Mary Ellen Noble and her husband Stephen of Amherst, NH. He was a loving grandfather to Margaret, Saranna, Kelin, Jamie Lynn, Sara, Patrick and Eleanor. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Wing and husband Henry of Concord, NH. Relatives and friends were invited to an hour of visiting with the Hammann family on Monday December 30th from 10:00 -11:00am in Hartman Hall at the Acton Congregational Church, 12 Concord Road, Acton. A funeral service followed at 11:00am in the Acton Congregational Church. Burial followed the service in Woodlawn Cemetery, Concord Road, Acton. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorial contributions to Hospice of the North Shore Pet Therapy Program, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, or Brooksby Village Scholarship Education Fund, 200 Brooksby Village Dr., Peabody, MA 01960, where he lived his final years.