Dr. Gerald Croll "Doc" Hamm

Dr. Hamm´s passion for teaching and overall enthusiasm for experiencing life made my 12th grade English class (Class 220) at Central High unforgettable, making me feel wonder for the first time. He brought group of us to Philadelphia Opera, a great privilege. The man had a knack for handing out tidbits of wisdom: "one day you´ll back and see how amazing life has been." Thanks, Doc for helping awaken my mind and giving a new insight into life. May your soul be joyful.

a master teacher and mentor. A friend through good times and bad. Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Natale

All the fond memories and appreciations of Jerry I have read to date come from his friends (particularly his former pupils) in the U.S.A. But, remember, Jerry was an inveterate traveller. My friend Andrew and I are from England and got to know Jerry way back in the 80s. He loved to visit England and Scotland (where he also had friends). His travel passion was for cities - especially London which he visited regularly from the 1930s until some 5 or 6 years ago. My friend and I tried to broaden...

Jerry (and that's how he spelled it to distinguish himself from his wife, Gerry) had more impact on my life than almost anyone else. He opened my eyes and mind and heart in so many ways that have remained important to me. He gave me a gift of introducing me to Yeats' poems which have stayed with me forever. Fortunately, I had the chance to thank him for all of that. My wife Carol and I visited him regularly and exchanged books and ideas - and argued madly about movies, politics and the sorry...

Although I was never in any of his classes, he was a symbol of honesty and goodness to me, as well as respect for all.

Dr.Gerald Hamm taught me English literature, and guided me into English poetry when I was 16 years old. I have been building on that initial care ever since. As a student in his Advanced English class in 1957-58, a class filled with some very brilliant students known very well to members of the 212th class, he saw in my poetic expression something distinctive. He always had time to read and comment. In our senior year he asked me, when he could have asked others, to write the Arbor Day Ode...

Although I have had many years of college education, I have never had a better teacher than "Doc" Hamm. He will be missed.

Wherever I have gone in my life Doc Hamm has been with me. He told me to "take yourself lightly and your work seriously,", a precept he followed. My opera notions are his opera notions. His voice reverberates. The writers' education he gave me was priceless. I cherish the copy of his doctoral thesis on Philip Barry that he gave me. I am not alone among his acolytes, students for whom he made the lasting sacrifices of a great teacher.

My condolences to the family. Dr. Hamm will be missed.