Henry F. Hammer

HAMMER Henry F. Hammer, Ph. D., a retired vice-president and corporate officer of Pfizer Inc., died on Wednesday March 8, 206 in Amelia Island, Florida. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1921, he received a BS in Chemistry from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and a Ph D. in organic and medicinal chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York in 1951. While an employee at the Winthrop Chemical Company in Troy New York, he was engaged in research on anti-malarial drugs, he became a co-developer of process for the manufacture of the anti-malarial drug Cloroquine which came into widespread use at the end of World War II. Dr. Hammer joined Pfizer in 1951 in Groton, Connecticut and worked in the field of anti- tubercular and broad spectrum antibiotic drugs. In 1955 he was transferred to Pfizer's Brooklyn facility where he worked in the Pharmaceutical Product Development Group. In 1964 he was named Assistant Director of Quality Control at Pfizer's world headquarters inManhattan. In 1967, Dr. Hammer was named Director of Quality Control and was appointed a Vice President and Corporate Office of Pfizer. From 1967 until his retirement in 1986, Dr. Hammer had the ultimate responsibility for the quality and regulatory compliance of Pfizer pharmaceutical and chemical products. During his career he authored or co-authored a number of publications dealing with organic chemistry and the development, manufacture, quality control and regulatory compliance of pharmaceutical drugs. Dr. Hammer was member of emeritus of both the American Chemical Society and Sigma Xi, the national honorary research society; a member, past treasurer and board member of the Mayport Navy League, a member of St. Michael's Church and Men's Club, the Amelia Island Club, the Amelia Island Plantation Men's Gold Association, the Senior Men's Tennis Group, and the Pelican Club. Dr. Hammer married Annette Marie Kelly in 1948. They raised their family in Niantic, Connecticut and Seaford, New York before moving to Ameli Island Floridan in 1985. In addition to his wife, Annette, Dr. Hammer is survived by his daughter, Mary (Robert) Story, his sons John (Laurie) Hammer and Brother Hank Hammer, FMS, his grandchildren Ashton and Brett Story and Christopher Zydel, his sister, Marie O'Connell, and his brother Felix (Cecilia) Hammer, numerous nieces and nephews, and dear friends Joyce and Anthony Capece. The family will receive friends today from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the funeral home. A Vigil service will be held at 6:00 pm during visiting hours. Services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, March 11, 2006 at St. Michael's Catholic Church with the Rev. Brian Eburn officiating. Interment will follow at Bosque-Bello Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Michael's Academy (Fernandina Beach). Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com