William R. Hammatt

Proud of being a native Cape Codder, Mr. Hammatt was born at Cape Cod Hospital on April 28, 1943, to Francis Parkman “Papa” Hammatt and Elizabeth “Chick” Hatch Hammatt. The youngest of 11 children, he grew up in Marshfield and graduated high school in Baton Rouge, La., where he'd gone for his senior year to live with members of his extended family.

His grandparents had founded sailing camps in Orleans and Mr. Hammatt spent many summers there. He served in the Navy in Vietnam as a flight navigator. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and from New England School of Law in Boston in 1974, moving to Chatham to open a law practice in 1975.

He practiced law in Chatham his entire career with a variety of partners and representing clients in real estate, estate planning, zoning and many other aspects of the profession.

He first began going to North Beach in the early 1970s, serving as caretaker for Camp Viking’s North Beach camp. He then bought the former Old Harbor Station Boathouse. After this camp was destroyed by a storm in 1991, he bought Camp Viking’s North Beach camp and rebuilt it. This camp became known as Hammatt’s Hanger.

Mr. Hammatt loved the beach and spent as much time as he could there. He met his wife, Mary, there in 1978, and hosted an annual party that was a highlight of the summer; the last one was held in 2009 and attended by more than 150 people.

He served as a spokesman for the First Village of camps when they came under attack by erosion and had to be dismantled one by one. His was the last camp standing, and a flagpole still stands on the small remaining slice of his property on the beach.

Mr. Hammatt was a dedicated town volunteer, serving on the conservation commission and North Beach advisory committee, as well as for many years representing the town on the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Committee. He always made sure that the voice of camp owners and the town was heard on the committee.

Mr. Hammatt was also a dedicated Mason, serving as master of St. Martin's Lodge in Chatham four times and master of Nauset Light Lodge twice. During his 30-plus years as a Mason, he also served as District Deputy Grand Master of the 21st Masonic District of Massachusetts.

Mr. Hammatt is survived by his wife, Mary; daughter Jessica Hammatt Wrubleski, her husband James and children Hannah and Cooper; daughters Dana and Susan; sister Elizabeth Hawes and her husband George; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, whom he dearly loved.

A memorial service will be held Friday, July 19 at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Rd. in Orleans. At 2 p.m., friends are invited to a celebration of his life at Bill’s home in North Chatham.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Hammatt's memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund, Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com