Avram Geoffrey Hammer

Avram G. Hammer, 84 of Marblehead, passed from this life on December 17, 2016 at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. He was the husband of Laurie (Gorfinkle) Hammer. Mr. and Mrs. Hammer celebrated their 60th anniversary in July.

Born in Methuen, MA, he was a son of the late Louis and Lillian (Mason) Hammer. He graduated from Harvard College, Boston, MA in 1953 and received his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1956.

Mr. Hammer served with the US Army in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corp while stationed at the Pentagon. He began his civilian career with Gorfinkle, Nappan and Hammer on Tremont St. in Boston. He was also a partner with Costello, Sullivan and Hammer in Boston and retired from his own practice in Marblehead in 2004.

He was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Jewish Community

Mr. Hammer provided legal advice and assisted in the founding of the Marblehead Arts Festival in 1964. He was an avid cycler who along with his adoring wife, biked for years in the Pan Mass Challenge, an annual fundraising ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown. Over the years they together raised thousands of dollars for the Jimmy Fund. He was a founding member of the North Shore Cyclopaths in 1974 and what began as Saturday morning bike and breakfast rides, 42 years later has grown to a group of cycling enthusiasts who are dedicated to the sport and each other.

Av also enjoyed photography, had his own darkroom and displayed pieces in the Marblehead Arts Festival. He was an avid sailor, swimmer and snow skier.

Besides his beloved wife, Laurie, he leaves 2 daughters, Ruth Hammer of Bronx, NY and Judy Sturim and her husband Bob of Wenham, MA; a son, David Hammer and his wife Lauren of Somerville, MA; His grandchildren Abby, Lilly and Jake Sturim and Ben and Joe Hammer. He is also survived by a sister, Sis Kramer and a brother, William Hammer both of Peabody.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 am in Congregation Shirat Hayam, 55 Atlantic Avenue, Swampscott, MA. Interment in Chevra Kadusha of Chelsea Cemetery, Everett, MA. Memorial Observance will be held at the family residence on Tuesday after services thru 7pm and on Wednesday from 3-7pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jimmy Fund / Pan Mass Challenge 77 Fourth Ave, Needham MA 02494 or Mass General Hospital Development Office 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114- 02494 or Mass General Hospital Development Office 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114-1101

.