COL Mark Edward Hammond (US Army, Retired), 71 of Kingston, NH, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 from cardiac arrest.  Born in Lynn, MA he was the son of the late Richard I and Mary Clara (Courteau) Hammond.  He lived in Iceland for several years as a young child before moving to Dunbarton, NH where he grew up. He attended the local schools and graduated from Concord High School in 1967. Mark attended Norwich University in Norwich, VT as a contracted ROTC Cadet, graduating with a Business Administration degree in 1971. He obtained his MBA from Southern NH University (Formerly NH College) in 1980.  He was a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Project Management Professional. He taught business administration at Southern NH University from 1982-1984.

Following his graduation from Norwich University, Mark began his military career. He was commissioned into the US Army as a 2 ^nd Lieutenant in November 1971.  He attended Officer Basic Course for Air Defense Artillery at Fort Bliss Texas from November 1971 – March 1972.  He was assigned to 7 ^th Battalion, 67 ^th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 101 ^st Air Force Division as a Platoon Leader at Fort Campbell, KY from March 1972 – November 1973 and was subsequently assigned  Platoon Leader for the 607 ^th Military Police Platoon in Manchester, NH in July 1974 – November 1977. He was promoted to Captain and went to HHC 167 ^th Support Group where he held multiple positions from Company Commander to RAS Control Officer until January 1983.

In October 1984 Captain Hammond was promoted to Major. He was a Systems Officer at Natick Labs in Natick, MA from May 1985-May 1986. He was with the HHC 167 ^th Infantry Brigade at Fort Devens in Ayer, MA from December 1986-August 1992 where he held multiples positions from Brigade Provost Marshall to Brigade Operations Officer and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. From there he went to the HHC 3 ^rd Battalion 16 ^th Infantry Regiment in Scarborough, ME as the Battalion Commander.  In April 1994 to October 1994 he became Chief Command Group Liaison for the HHD 94 ^th ARCOM at Hanscom Air Force Base. In October 1994 Lt. Col. Hammond was assigned the Executive Officer for HHC 167 ^th Support Group at Ft. Devens until January 1997. He was Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for HHC 94 ^th Regional Support Command also at Ft. Devens from May 1997- April 1999. While assigned to this position, he was promoted to Colonel at which time he retired from the US Army Reserves.

Mark held many management, implementation, and IT positions throughout his expansive business career. He worked for the NH Crime Commission in the late 1970s and then accepted a position as a Software Consultant for Software International in Andover, MA in 1981. In 1985 he worked for and was named Assist Vice- President at First Winthrop Corporation in Boston, MA. In 1995 he was hired by TYCO International in Exeter, NH for the position of IT Director for Grinnell Fire Protection. In 1999 Tyco transferred Mark and his family to Houston, Texas until he was transferred once again in 2001 to Simplex Grinnell in Westminster, MA where he assumed the position of Six Sigma Black Belt.

In 2006 Mark began working for multiple companies as a Project Manager: RSA Security, PAREXEL and PM Solutions. One of his favorite companies that he was assigned a project manager for 6 years was Rolls-Royce North America. Later in Mark's career, he took on Program Manager roles with TicketNetwork, VidSys Inc and Quantum Secure until 2017. Mark worked as a Project Manager for Quognify Inc. until his retirement in June 2019. He left an indelible and unforgettable impression on all those he worked for and interacted with professionally.

Mark loved to travel, and he travelled extensively worldwide throughout his career. One of his most beloved places was the country of Iceland where he visited numerous times in his Army career. He was planning a trip to take his sons there. Mark was a sports enthusiast and his favorite team was the New England Patriots. He enjoyed spending weekends at his dear friend Walter's camp with his Army buddies and was a life-long member of the "East Warren Fish and Game Club."  He was an expert in and loved all- things technology, possessing extensive comprehensive knowledge of computer hardware and software. He was the go-to person for family and friends to solve all their technology problems. Mark also was a Jack of all trades and there was not much that he could not tear apart, repair, restore or install.

Mark's greatest joy was his wife and family, and he adored his three granddaughters who lovingly referred to him as Chopped Liver.  He was a man of deep faith in God and lived his life accordingly. He was a CCD teacher and a member of the Parish Council at Holy Angels Church of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish. He was immensely proud of all his children and their accomplishments in life. Mark loved his life and enjoyed it to the fullest. He embraced each day with a positive attitude and always viewed his glass of Jack Daniels as half full instead of half empty. He valued his friendships in all aspects of his personal life and career and maintained them throughout his life. But in addition to his love for his family, his military Brothers and Sisters held a special place in his heart.

Mark leaves behind his loving wife of 39 years Colleen (O'Leary) Hammond, and his four children, Erin Behan and spouse, Stephen of Millbrook, AL; Bryan Hammond and girlfriend Carolina Jorges of Salem, NH; Kevin Hammond and life partner Diana Walsworth of Bedford, NH and Rebecca Hammond of Denver, CO. He also leaves two sisters Lynn Miller and husband Chuck of Bucyrus, Ohio and Heather Hokans and husband John of Bucyrus, Ohio; Daughter- in- Law Mary Christy of Wolfeboro, NH. He also leaves behind granddaughters Emma Hammond of Wolfeboro, Ashlyn and Sadie Behan of Millbrook, AL and cousins, nieces, and nephews. Mark was predeceased by his sister Patricia Hammond Gould and his brother Richard Hammond Jr.

A private family service was held on Tuesday, June 2 ^nd at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home in Plaistow, NH.  Due to the national health crisis, relatives and friends are invited to a Memorial Mass to be held at a future date at Holy Angels Church of Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish, 8 Atkinson Depot Road, Plaistow, NH to be followed with interment at the NH Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH with full military honors.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Holy Angels Community Food Pantry in Plaistow, NH.

"Old Soldiers never die…they simply fade away!"