Formerly of Lexington, MA, Susan Hammond passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 19, 2021, age 78. She is survived by her daughter, Heather Hammond Whitt; son-in-law, Jason Whitt and beloved grandson Spencer Preston Whitt, of Sag Harbor, New York. She is also survived by her sister, Sandra Rogers of Lake Havasu City, Arizona and many dear cousins and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Robert F. Hammond, with whom she will be buried.
Susan was born in Winchester, MA to parents Melba and Joseph DeGiacomo. As a teenager, Susan started a successful dance school for children in the basement of her family home. She never lost her lifelong love of dance, particularly ballet and jazz.
She also never lost her entrepreneurial spirit and drive. Susan launched her own small but successful executive search firm in the 1970s. She then worked with her husband in his executive search boutique. She later served as Director of Human Resources for John Hancock Funds in Boston, MA.
Susan lived in Lexington for several decades where she loved entertaining, cooking, decorating and architecture. When she was not working, she designed and decorated exquisite antique colonial homes with care and reverence for architectural detail. In earlier years, she dutifully went sailing with her family and friends in Ipswich and Marblehead virtually every summer weekend, even though she despised the sport and claimed she could not swim.
We will miss Susan’s intellect, charisma, tenacity, her impeccable style, independence, dangerously sharp wit and intrepid conversational skills. Deeply inquisitive, one could count on Susan to strike up a conversation with anyone in or near her orbit. She was the very opposite of a conversational narcissist: when Susan engaged in a conversation with you, she truly listened and sought to learn. That said, she could be counted upon to never hold back her opinion and laugh at the most inappropriate moments.
While she was a lifelong thrifty New Englander, her generous spirit will be remembered by all who knew her.
A private funeral service for close friends and family will be held at Westview Cemetery in Lexington, MA on Saturday, September 25. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Susan’s memory to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund through the donate link below.