SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Over 60 people celebrated the long life of Fred Hammond June 17 as they recalled his quick wit, his interest in others and faithfulness to the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in San Diego for 45 of his 91 years.
Fred Hammond died May 2 in a hospital of pneumonia after having heart surgery. He is survived by his son, Michael and his wife, Denise, of Sebastopol, Calif. and they addressed MCC at his June 17 memorial service. He is also survived by a daughter, Janet, a granddaughter and former wife Marge, of San Diego.
“Fred was a great part of this church,” said Senior Pastor Dan Koeshall. “Fred touched all of our lives.”
“He would light up a room with his energy and I have never met a person with such a quick wit,” said Koeshall.
Koeshall told the audience he visited Hammond in his hospital room and he told him, “I’m at peace, Dan.”
Michael Hammond said his father enlisted in the Navy in World War II when he was only 17 years old. He later became a Navy commander and a Navy chaplain. Michael Hammond said his father served in three wars which also included the Korean War and Vietnam. He retired from military service in 1969 after 28 years and was highly decorated for valor.
He became known as Fun Fred, his handle on two gay bulletin boards known as Genesis and later Andros in the 1980s and 1990s.
Even at 91 years of age, Hammond still drove and served as a communion server at MCC. He would offer the blessing in either English or Spanish.
Bill West recalled his trademark handlebar mustache. “His spirit was always up,” said West, who said Hammond could not bring himself to discuss some of the tragedies he experienced in wartime. Several people said Hammond referred to deceased soldiers he knew as “the real heroes” who did not come home.
“I loved Fred. He was such a presence,” said Ayawnda Alise. “A really loved man. It was a privilege to know him.”
“He was a dear man. He loved this church,” said David Root.
Also attending the service was former senior pastor Rev. David Farrell and his husband. “I never heard a discouraging word from him. He was faithful. He loved this church and we loved him back,” said Farrell.
“Fred was imprinted … in the DNA of our church,” said Koeshall.
Koeshall recalled visiting Hammond in the hospital once when he told Koeshall, “You go (visit) people who need you more than me.”
Michael Hammond said his father would have been pleased with the memorial service, but he probably would have commented that people went to too much trouble to have it. He described his father as “a man of service” who grew up in the Los Angeles area during the Great Depression. He was the oldest of three sons, and his brothers Bob and Chuck have pre-deceased him.
Fred Hammond was also a world traveler, having visited 88 countries. Before moving to San Diego, Fred Hammond served as a county commissioner in Nevada.
“He lived well to his last days,” said Michael Hammond.
A Navy bugler played “Taps” and two sailors presented an American flag to his son.
At the end of the service, Koeshall transferred Fred’s membership at MCC to “the church in heaven.”
