Donald Bruce Hammond

Donald was born in Orange, New Jersey to Marjorie Smith Hammond and Colonel Hugh Washburn Hammond. After a brief stop at Wright Patterson AFB, the Hammonds moved to Alexandria, VA and the place Don would truly call home for the majority of his life. 
 


Don attended Mount Vernon High School. He was creative and musically inclined – and very much involved in campus life. Over his time at Mt. Vernon, he sang in Glee Club; worked as Editor in Chief of the school yearbook and served as Class President. Outside of school, Don began his lifelong love affair with cars - and legend holds that he was involved in more than one race along the GW Parkway with everyone from classmates to the occasional off-duty police officer.

Growing up in the shadow of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and living through World War II as a child left an indelible mark on Don - helping spark his insatiable appetite for history. He would go on to earn his BA in American History from Lynchburg College in 1959 and was a lifelong learner.

Don always spoke with great fondness of his years on campus, and it was during his time at Lynchburg that he truly fell in love with Virginia and her Blue Ridge Mountains. He spent many hours exploring its beautiful back roads and storied history. Rumor even has it that his extra-curricular activities included helping transport home-made “beverages” throughout rural Virginia – taking full advantage of the driving skills he polished during his HS days.

Don met and married Julia Blake West with whom he had two children – John Bruce and Keith Chanslor. Before the young family could settle however, Julia was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Don lost his young wife and their infant daughter to cancer and faced the challenge of raising two young boys as a widower at just over 30 years old. 
 


His single parenting days would thankfully not be forever, as Don would go on to meet the woman he’d call “the greatest thing to ever happen” to him - fellow Alexandria native Carole Bernheimer. Despite being an alum of rival George Washington HS, and an inauspicious start to their relationship involving a runaway gasoline pump, the two quickly hit it off. They would marry in December of 1970 and Carole would go on to formally adopt John and Keith, proudly raising them as her own. The couple went on to have two more children, David Benjamin and Jennifer Rebecca and would’ve celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this winter.

Don’s working life was highlighted by a long career at Blue Cross Blue Shield of the National Capital Area where he served in varied capacities. During his many years there he served as a contract specialist; legal and legislative affairs representative; and even a lobbyist before becoming what he said in his own words he, “always really wanted to be – a retiree!” 



Don enjoyed his work, but his most treasured titles were “Dad” and “Grandpa.” His real joy came from family time; from weekend breakfast dates with the kids to vacations along Skyline Drive or to Ocean City - to backyard family cookouts and holiday gatherings. Don could not have been prouder of his family – whom he believed to be his greatest legacy.

Don briefly un-retired to work for Freddie MAC, but shortly after settled permanently into the retired life he dreamed of all those decades ago. He stayed involved in the local community by serving on both the local recreation association board and the neighborhood watch committee. He would start his morning ritual with a visit to 7-11 or to the local sandwich shop and then proceed to the riverside to enjoy his hot coffee; a sweet treat; and a morning prayer. He’d take a spin through Ft Hunt Park (the home to many special memories across the decades) and around the neighborhood on the way home to make sure all was in order. He’d return home to his to-do lists which often included tinkering with his classic cars, finding something that needed fixing with duct tape or twine (his infamous “engineering” solutions will remain long after he’s left us), playing the piano or doodling in his sketchbook. 
 


Don was perhaps best known to the community as the guy with an uncanny resemblance to Santa Claus who would putter by in an antique orange “toy” car; a ‘41 Crosley that was the same model as his very first car (and that was gifted to him by his children for a milestone birthday). His little “Blossom” became a source of great joy for the whole family. Nothing made Don happier than watching passersby gawk and smile, seeing children excitedly wave when he punched the cartoon like “a-woo-ga!” horn, and answering questions from curious onlookers.
 


In his sunset years, his favorite activity became sitting in the sunshine on the back porch taking in the beauty of the world around him. He’d whistle along to the birds as they’d come to visit, smile at the sounds of happy children laughing in the school yard and soak in all the love from his beloved pooches (for whom he became a Human PEZ dispenser).

Those who knew Don remarked that he never met a stranger. He had that gift to be able to talk to anyone from any walk of life. He was quick to offer a smile or a wave, and to strike up a conversation and share a story—and Lord knows he never had a shortage of them! 



Donald was preceded in death by his first wife Julia West; their infant daughter Toby Lynn; and their son John B. Hammond. He is survived by his wife Carole; his sons Keith (Ann) and David (Laura); his daughter Jenny (Codi); his grandchildren Brittany (Nour), Hunter, Ella and Callie; his brother Kenneth and nephews Mark, Michael, and Matthew. 



We encourage you to remember him by sharing your favorite stories and memories with us at his Celebration of Life. We will post details once that becomes finalized.

In lieu of flowers, those who desire to donate in his memory may support the Shenandoah Park National Trust (https://www.snptrust.org); National Parks Foundation; (give.nationalparks.org) Cure Alzheimer’s (https://curealz.org); Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org) - or a charity of your choosing.