- Date Of Birth: October 14, 1933
- Date Of Death: September 15, 2018
- State: California
Don was born in Pittsburgh, PA on October 14, 1933. After graduating from Langley High School, he moved to CA and served in the US Army. He graduated from San Diego State with a Bachelors in Education and taught for many years. He decided to go into the medical field & obtained an RN, BSN degree. He was the head nurse on a psychiatric unit at the La Jolla Veterans Hospital, where he met his future wife, an RN on the unit. His patience, wisdom & calm demeanor made him an effective & well respected leader.
Don & Mary Jane (MJ) married in November of 1975, had a son, Eric, born in 1984. Don later worked in the VA Medical Intensive Care Unit until he retired.
Don was always an avid reader, and enjoyed learning & teaching. His interests were many & varied, such as photography, stained glass, ceramics, woodwork, remodeling, real estate etc. He loved nature & animals, from having a monkey when he was younger; to cats, dogs, birds, & even a llama. He enjoyed music & playing the guitar. He stayed active snorkeling, biking, kayaking & keeping up with Eric. He was rollerblading up until age 78. He had many fond memories of the decades of fun at our beach cabin in Mexico with family & friends.
Don enjoyed the peace & quiet at the lake these last few years. Alzheimer’s may have robbed him of some of his memories & abilities, but not of his loving nature & dignity.
Don was preceded in death by Harry Hammill (Father), Alice Hammill Gibson (Mother), Rich & Sandy Hammill (Brother & Sister-in-law), and Lonny Hammill (Nephew).
Don is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, Eric (son), Dr. Mark Wegener (step-son & his wife, Leslie, their sons, Austin & Lennon). Survived by his niece, Laurie Holman, and her son, Ryan Doyle (Michelle) & their girls, Ava & Norah. Laurie’s daughter, Renee (Mark) Gruwell & their girls, Reagan & Scarlet. Laurie’s daughter, Jamie (Nick) Carone & their children, Tanner, Riley & Jaxon.
Memories bind us. We are apart, but we are together.
Forever in our hearts.
