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Beverly — Henry Eliot Hammond, age 94, beloved husband of the late, Virginia A. (Mitchell) Hammond passed away peacefully in Florida early Monday, February 11, 2013. He was the most loving, dedicated father and grandfather to his entire family. Born and raised in Essex, he was the next to the youngest of 11 children. He was the last living child born to Henry I. Hammond and Edith (Russell) Hammond, and raised on the family turkey farm in Essex.
He graduated from Essex High School, class of 1936. He and his wife, Jini, were blessed spending most of their 66 years of marriage in the family home on Brimbal Ave, Beverly, but enjoyed many years traveling between their homes in Beverly, Gilford, N.H., and Clermont, Fla., after dedicating over 40 years of service as a foreman, working for New England Telephone Company in Lynn. In retirement he was fortunate to have enjoyed many years of travel with his wife and family, visiting Spain, Morocco, Alaska, England, Scotland, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Canada, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Aruba, in addition to many states here in the United States, as well as several memorable family vacations to Disney World.
Henry, known as “Eliot” to his family and close friends was a very physically active person, and particularly enjoyed gardening and maintaining his yard and home. Family was always his first priority, as all of his grandchildren enjoyed him as their only babysitter growing up. He was a long time member of the Church in the Cove, in Beverly. He was also a long standing member of the Masonic Temple, Budleigh Lodge in Beverly. Henry served very proudly as a Sargent in the United States Army during World War II, 26th Yankee Division, 101st Field Artillery, 101st Regiment, Battery B, at the Battle of the Bulge in France in December, 1944.
He is survived by his three children, Cheryl H. Thomas and her husband, the Reverend Ferdinand of Loxahatchee and Peabody, Dexter E. Hammond and his wife, Susi of Beverly, and Kimberly G. Donahue and of Danvers; four grandchildren, Elena M. Hammond of Salem, Michael E. Hammond of Beverly, Brittany T. Donahue of Beverly, and Brendan E. Donahue of Danvers. He leaves behind loving family and special friends, Timothy Staaf, Patricia (Mitchell) Stigall of Virginia, Roger J. Donahue Jr., Rodney and Doris Mitchell of Middleton, John DePaula of Beverly, Beth Donahue, Marge and Dolores Thomas of Florida, Miguel Mendez, Asuncion Mendez-Garcia, Beatrice Salmiento, Blanca Telez-Rico, all of Spain and Gary, Jessica, and Maddie Janinda, Penny Pascale, and Connie Geyer, all of New Hampshire. Family was his legacy, and he will be missed by those of us who knew him best and were blessed by having him ever present in our lives.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and close friends will be invited to attend private memorial services at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Avenue, Salem, MA 01970 in support of his love for his pets, dogs and cats, which were a part of his family his entire life.
