Geraldine V. Hammack

Gerri passed away peacefully at home in Pacific Grove with Chad, her husband, at her side. She was born in San Francisco and raised in Contra Costa County. After high school she worked briefly as a dental assistant, then became a Red Cross swimming instructor, and soon after, as an accomplished certified diver, she became a diving instructor with the Olympic Dive Club. In 1970, she met Chad Hammack while diving for abalone off the Mendocino Coast. They also dove off the Monterey. After they fell in love they moved to Pacific Grove in 1971. Gerri worked for many years in the front office of the Central Medical Clinic, and then for a number of years at Monterey Salinas Transit. She created a practice in cranio-sacral and sports massage, volunteering often at the Big Sur and other marathons. When she retired, she turned her energies to the large garden that surrounds her home in Pacific Grove. One of her husband's poems to her ends with the line, "When she grows up, she is going to be a redwood." Another to her ends with an even more appropriate line for this occasion: "And across the oceanic expanse of darkness and light, I think I hear someone beginning to sing."

Gerri gave of herself and her love effortlessly. All who knew her experienced her gentleness, her selfless and undiminished interest in the other person. Even in her last days, she was far more interested in the welfare of those around than her own pain and decline. Most of us want to be good and try to be good. Gerri simply emanated goodness from the core of her being. Her tireless spirit surmounted her cancer right up to the last day. She lived those very qualities most of us aspire after.

Gerri is survived by her husband, Chad, her four children from her first marriage, Gretchen (Kevin), Eric (Susan), Karen (Lucie), and David, and her sister, Beverly McDermott. She was predeceased by her parents, Jack Guillory, a Cajun from Louisiana, and Anna Guillory, whose parents were Laplanders from Finland.

In her long life, Gerri was the face of love as strength, love as communion, love as forgiveness. It isn't merely what she did. It is who she was.

Deepest thanks to Dr. Cindy Lee and to the nurses and staff of the Hospice of the Central Coast for their love, compassion, and support.

A small memorial with family and friends will be held in the near future in Gerri's garden.