Nine institutions and organizations were recipients of gifts totaling $250,000 from the trust of the late Guy L. Hammond, who passed away in September. He was 94.
DEARBORN — Nine organizations and institutions were recipients of gifts totaling $250,000 from the trust of the late Guy L. Hammond who died in September at the age of 94.
Karl Fava, CPA, distributed the funds March 8 at a breakfast at Park Place.
Many of those in attendance were surprised by Hammond’s generosity, but not Ali Mousa, owner of Dimitri’s Restaurant in Dearborn.
“If a waitress was a little down on her luck, she often received help from Mr. Hammond,” Mousa said. “If there was a collection at the restaurant, Guy would add to it.”
Charlie Jacobs, associate dean of Science at Henry Ford Community College, announced that the school will name the planetarium in the new science center in honor of Hammond.
Lt. Mike Bracket of the Dearborn Fire Department Burn Drive was “overwhelmed by the generosity” and mentioned
things that Hammond’s gift would enable the Burn Drive to do.
Other organizations receiving gifts were: Dearborn Soccer League, Dearborn Symphony, Dearborn Community Arts Council, Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, Dearborn Goodfellows, Dearborn PTSA, and Friends of the Library – Dearborn.
Hammond was considered the “senior” of all company employees when he retired from AAA Michigan after 58 years as an employee. He started working at the AAA Michigan office on Bagley in Detroit as the country was emerging from the Great Depression.
Hammond’s career was interrupted by the start of World War II. He served two years in the Army — he was a glider pilot in Europe — and on his return went into sales working as a sales agent at the Dearborn branch of AAA Michigan.
Hammond was a national Senior Olympian (tennis), scuba diver at age 80 and a sailor in the Port Huron to Mackinac Race.