Philip W. Hammond

1958 - 2015

BORN

1958

DIED

2015

Philip Hammond Obituary

Philip Warner Hammond, 57, passed away after complications from a long battle with Lyme Disease on May 16, 2015 at his residence in Oakland, CA. He was brought up in West Hartford and lived there until 1982. Philip was born on March 21, 1958 in Hartford, the son of Charles and Jean Hammond of West Hartford who predeceased him. Philip is survived by his brother Robert and his sister-in-law Gayle of Newtown, CT, his niece Laura Stock of Chicago, IL and nephew Gregg of Norwalk, CT. Philip graduated from Conard High in 1975 and attended the University of Connecticut. He lived in the Washington, DC area for several years in the late 1980's and ultimately moved to the San Francisco area. Philip had an amazing memory and ability with foreign languages and spoke fluent Spanish, French and several Middle Eastern languages. He taught Urdu and Farsi privately in the San Francisco area for many years. He also had strong botanical interests and volunteered at UC Berkeley in its botanical gardens. His main focus was ferns and Philip traveled the world finding, studying and cultivating different species, especially the rarest varieties. Some 15 years ago Philip was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and had been under continuous treatment provided by numerous medical professionals. He was a strong Lyme Disease and tick borne disease advocate and spent countless hours counseling and assisting numerous fellow patients throughout the world. Philip had the unique ability to relate to, converse with and befriend a large variety of people. He will be missed by many. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations may be made in Philip's name to the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society, PO Box 341461, Bethesda, Maryland 20827-1461.

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Published by Hartford Courant on May 22, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Philip Hammond

Sponsored by the family.

8 Entries

Robin K

August 25, 2018

A friend told me Philip had died. Wow. He was a force of nature! He always took the initiative to do what he wanted to do. When I contacted him through an online Lyme site, he asked what I was doing that night. I said I was going to the ballet. He asked if he could join me and bring the IgeneX test form and he would mark off the tests for me to get. So we met at the ballet and afterwards, that's what he did. My primary care doc knew nothing about Lyme and consented to sign off on it. A couple weeks later, my primary care doc called on the morning of April 18, 2006, the 100th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and asked how I could be both positive and negative, as in IgeneX positive and CDC negative. I recall going out that day for the city's centennial earthquake commemoration wondering how I could be both positive and negative! It was all very confusing in the beginning. Philip explained what was going on, not only then but throughout the years. He was a mentor to so many people. But not only about Lyme. He was friendly to everyone, even just walking down the street. How many people are that open in life?
He is shown in the Lyme film, "Under Our Skin," shaking the hand of Dr Jones. Philip had a dual life in SF and in CT. He was a big fan of Dr Jones, the children's Lyme doctor in CT.
It's hard to take in that he's gone.

Leila B

June 10, 2015

I was devastated to hear the news of Philip's passing. I knew him for twenty years. When we walked around San Francisco, he talked to everybody. It seemed as if there was no one to whom he could not speak in their native language. He spoke to one shopkeeper in Arabic, another in Urdu, another in Turkish without missing a beat. He spoke to everyone the same; no one was too homeless, too elderly, or too crazy to be worthy of a few moments of his time.

We had an interest in languages in common. Sometimes he would speak to me in a mix of Spanish, French, Turkish and Hindi for fun. His grammar was flawless. When I moved to Australia he could spot subtle changes in my accent. He spoke fluent Farsi and studied Mongolian and Kazakh. He also knew some German. He was brilliant. Who knows what he could have accomplished under different circumstances.

When I became ill in 2003 he talked me through every step of diagnosis and treatment. He was the person who was most supportive in the first five years of my Lyme disease, more than my own family at that stage. For years he knew exactly which drugs and supplements I was taking. He went to the doctor with me, brought me to a Lyme support meeting, put me in touch with other Lymies. Like Philip, I had an aggressive case with co-infections. I owe my early diagnosis entirely to Philip. Had I not been diagnosed early I believe I would have been in danger. This is a debt that I will now never be able to repay.

I am very sorry for your family. This has been a hellish ordeal for years, though for no one more than Philip. I hope you can find a way to heal from this.

June 5, 2015

It is with great sadness I add my message to this book. Philip was a dear friend, who stood the test of time.. I send my sincere condolences to his family.

Steven Stoltenberg

June 1, 2015

I knew Philip when I was a graduate student at UC Berkeley in the late 1990s/early 2000s. We shared an interest in exotic foreign languages and ethnic cooking. I for one can testify to Philips uncanny linguistic abilities - one can say he never saw a language he wasn't interested in studying. His calligraphic talents in languages using other alphabets, such as Arabic or Amharic, were also prodigious and his style displayed an inherent artistic sensibility. Philip was famous among the cognoscenti for his Indian saag - a pureed spinach dish - the best I've ever had - and he kept the recipe secret, much to our chagrin. I think his friends will also remember that Philip was the consummate iconoclast. I didn't share his political sympathies but I admired how he stuck to his principles no matter what. Philip lived his political convictions in a way few of us are willing to do. Last but certainly not least, his sense of humor was capable of keeping me in stitches. The news of his death comes as a complete shock. I knew he had been diagnosed with lyme disease but I had lost touch over the years, mostly due to my own negligence. Philip - I'm very sorry I failed to keep all those ferns alive you had found in the Shenandoah National Park. I guess I just never had it in me to match your botanical skills. You outdid me in most other categories as well. And now you're gone. I'm so sorry I never had the chance to say goodbye.

Elisa DellaVeccia

May 23, 2015

Dear Bob & Gayle,
It is with great sadness I send this message to you and the entire Hammond family. I am so sorry of the passing of your brother Philip. He truly fought a courageous battle of chronic Lyme disease.He was an inspiration for others dealing with not only Lyme but other auto immune diseases...he gave me alot of insight on issues I also am going thru. He was a true advocate for many many people.
Most recently we reconnected and I enjoyed his random witty texts and daily collaboration on crossword puzzles + the jumble...he was such a "wiz"!!!
He was a true lover of classical music + all the composers + shared many of the stations that I could tune in online so to share in this same passion.
Several summers ago when he was in West Hartford helping with your moms care...he taught me so much about ferns and I loved watching his fern bed truly thrive...I often wonder how it is doing...
He will be missed but I know that he is at peace
If there will be a memorial serice I would like to be there to celebrate his life.
Hoping time will gently soothe your sadness into peace.
Sympathy, understanding & love are with you all
Elisa

May 23, 2015

Bob and Gayle Offering my deepest sympathy to you at this difficult time May our Dear Lord keep your Brother in his loving arms and give you and Gayle strength and support Fondly. Terri James Nicholas

elisa dellavecchia

May 22, 2015

Bob + Gayle,
How very sorry I was to hear of the passing of your brother Philip. He suffered with chronic Lyme Disease for many years + I must say he taught me so much about it and other auto immune diseases as well. Most recently he reached out and was curious how my life in NC was going... He seemed quite happy and we would challenge me with the daily jumble or crossword.... He was a wiz... Truly amazed me at how brilliant and quick he was. I also learned so much about ferns and other plants several summers ago when he was here helping with your dear mother.
He was very interested in classical music and shared with me some of the stations I should tune into.
I was so happy that over the last few months we had reconnected... He seemed quite well...I looked forward to his random witty texts.
Hearing the news yesterday was such a shock... I have such a heavy heart.
Please let me know if/when there will be a memorial service in his honor... As I would like to get back there for it.
Wishing you strength in the caring of friends + family + hoping that time will gently soothe your sadness into peace.
Sympathy, love + understanding are with you
Elisa

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