Prentice Fisk Hammond

Lt. Colonel Prentice Fisk Hammond Sr. (Ret.), 82, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 8, 2015 at his home in Bartonsville, VT. Prentice was born in Bellows Falls, VT, or as his twin sister Petie always says, she kicked him out first on June 9, 1932.

A graduate of Bellows Falls High School in 1950, Prentice worked for several years at the Standard Paper Company. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on January 26, 1953, beginning an incredible journey of dedicated and honorable service to his country. He served with distinction for 20 years in France, Germany, Korea, and Okinawa, in addition to many domestic assignments. He served two tours in Vietnam in 1967-68 and 1970-71.

Before being drafted, Prentice escorted his twin sister on a double date. Petie suggested he invite Teresa Snarski to be his date, the three had been friends since starting first grade together at the one room schoolhouse in Bartonsville. While Petie’s date did not end well, Teresa and Prentice married on June 25th, 1955. They enjoyed nearly 60 wonderful years together.

Prentice served in the Engineer Corps of the U.S. Army until his retirement in February 1973. On his first overseas trip to his posting to France, Prentice was assigned as the Health Officer where he became seasick the moment the troop ship departed Brooklyn Navy yard. He described the 10 days at sea as the “worst in his life.” Teresa, meanwhile, had a wonderful crossing as Prentice kept watch over their infant son, Prentice, Jr. the first of eight children.

In December 1967, he was assigned to the Post Engineers in Saigon, Vietnam, where he was in charge of in-house facilities for the 20,000 U.S. military and allied forces stationed there. He earned the first of three bronze stars during the Tet Offensive in February 1968. During his second tour he served as Deputy Northern District Engineer and was responsible for supervising Army engineers in Central Vietnam. As Installation Engineer in Da Nang, he also oversaw the transfer of facilities to the Republic of Vietnam as the U.S. began to withdraw.

After retiring from the military, Prentice returned to Bartonsville with his family and began a second career as the Town Manager of Chester. He was quickly tested in his new job during the flood of June 1973, which destroyed 11 bridges and many miles of roads throughout the town. He served the town of Chester for 21 years. He was also very active in the community, including starting races at Rockingham Swim meets and being a part of the Chain Gang for Bellows Falls Union High School and the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Tournaments.

Prentice was an avid golfer at the Bellows Falls Country Club, and even served a term as President of the Board. He bowled in the Springfield Tuesday league; was a member of the Chester American Legion, the Masons, the Springfield Elks Club; organized the Black, White and Dusty and Shrine Golf tournaments; loved to fish and go to his hunting camp; and traveled with Teresa to Europe and to military reunions in the US. He could often be seen in Chester taking morning coffee with the “boys” at the diner.

Although Parkinson’s Disease curtailed many of his activities it could not keep him from playing in his Thursday night poker game, something he looked forward to every week. Thanks, guys: Win or lose he loved every moment of those nights. Parkinson’s also did not rob him of his wry sense of humor and quick wit.

Prentice began tapping the maples on his land in the spring of 1974. The Covered Bridge Sugar House has been going ever since. He would have been happy to know that the sap was finally running on the day he died.

Prentice is survived by his wife Teresa Snarski Hammond and their eight children, six grandchildren and one great grandchild: Prentice Jr; William, his wife Patricia (McDermott) and their sons Ryan and Ian; Barbara and husband James Kolodziej; Mary and husband Clint Spaar; Everett, his wife Kimberlie (Olbrych) and their daughters Lyndsie Perkins and Claire; Susan; Kimberly, her husband John Austin, her son Nicholas Willard and her grandson Holden Fisk Willard; and Norris, his wife Christina (Thompson) and their daughter Isabella. He is also survived by his twin sister Patricia Olin and her husband Richard as well as many nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his brothers Roger and Guernsey and parents Zeona Fisk and Norris Roger Hammond.

Calling hours will be held at Adams Funeral home 35 Depot St. Chester on Friday March 13th from 4 pm to 7 pm. Services will be held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Chester on Saturday, March 14 at 11 am with a reception to follow at the American Legion in Chester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Prentice to the American Legion Post 67 in Chester or St. Joseph’s Church in Chester where Prentice was known as the most faithful of the non-Catholic attendees.

Arrangements under the direction of Adams Funeral Homes, Chester, Vermont.