Jerome J. Hammond
1942 — 2011
Jerome J. Hammond (Duffer) passed away peacefully at his home in Alexandria, Virginia on May 21, 2011, having lost his battle with Leukemia.
He was 69.
Jerry was born March 16, 1942 to Gerald and Mary Hammond in Davenport, Washington. The family moved to Friday Harbor in 1944, where Duffer (family nickname) attended elementary school.
A source of pride to him and the Hammond family was that his father served for many years as the town Marshall of Friday Harbor. He graduated from Sedro Woolley High in 1960, and went on to spend four years serving in the U.S. Air Force. He received his B.A. at Central Washington University, and his Ph.D in agricultural economics from Washington State University in 1974.
Jerry and Deanna Lindberg were married in 1968 in Friday Harbor, but later divorced. He married Melissa Westerland-Martin in 1991. They had one child, Victoria, and divorced in 2005.
Jerry began his government career as an agricultural economist with the USDA in 1974. He held several positions with the agency and in 1997 he was appointed director, International Programs Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service. He received numerous honors, including the Soil and Water Fellow Award, and was listed in the “Who’s Who” for Washington D.C., and Emerging Leaders in America and the World.
His duties with USDA took him to many countries, but his heart was always in Friday Harbor. He became a San Juan Island property owner, and was a member of the American Legion-Hackett Larson Post 167 for 45 years. He was also a member of the San Juan Historical Museum.
He enjoyed the hunting, fishing, and many good times with family and friends on his visits to the island. Other interests include running (some marathons) hiking, gardening and crewing for friends who are active in horse endurance competition worldwide. As an alum of WSU, he was an avid Cougar enthusiast.
Upon retirement in 2002, he pursued his passion for genealogy, becoming a skilled researcher of his family history. The long line of the Hammond family in the United States was a source of pride for him.
Jerome is survived by daughter Victoria, brother Bruce (Carol), sisters Geraldine (Marty), Eunice Normet (Eido), Lois Gallanger (Noel), Helaine Gallanger (Henry), Ruth Cox (Dave), Lou Ann Gilbert (Chuck), and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brother Herbert and sister Elizabeth Lampard.
A celebration of Jerome’s life will be held June 11, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Museum, 100 SW Veterans Way, Chehalis Way, Chehalis, Washington (Take Exit 77… right off I-5, and an immediate left at the next light.).
Remembrances can be made to the San Juan Historical Museum, PO Box 441, Friday Harbor, WA, 98250
