Conrad Calvert Hammann

Conrad Calvert Hammann, “CC”,”Connie”, left this world on March 30, 2015. This renaissance man leaves in his wake a legacy of family, community and service. The world will be forever changed as a result of his time here and all that had the chance to know him, while mourning his passing, will celebrate his life.

Connie was born on Dec.1, 1929 in Martinsburg, WV. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Conrad and Carmen Calvert Hammann and by his sister, Mary Jo Orr. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann (Glenn) Hammann , at home; brother, Paul E . Hammann; his children, Conrad C. “Skip” Hammann Jr. and his wife Lynn, Lisa H. Boyle and her husband David, Karen H. Bull and her husband Charles. Additionally he leaves behind seven grandchildren, Leslie and Tyler Hammann, Kristen B. McCavera (Greg), Adam (Becky) and Alec Boyle, Peter and Chris Bull and one great-grandchild, Ryan McCavera, all of whom he adored.

Connie graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1947 and Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as Carnegie Mellon University) in 1951, where he graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering and competed on the school’s basketball and track teams. Upon graduation, he worked for Goodyear before joining the Navy in 1952 where he served as an officer for four years. This experience marked him with a fond love of the Navy and Naval history that he carried through the rest of his life. After serving his country, Connie found a role as an Engineer with the Halltown Paperboard Company in 1956. He remained at Halltown his entire career, becoming President in 1972 until officially retiring in 1997. He served on many national boards in the paper industry throughout his career.

Connie is famous for his service to others and the community. He was a founding member of the Shepherdstown Rotary Club and the Good Shepherd Caregivers. He was awarded the first Jefferson County Distinguished Citizen Award in 2004 for the Shenandoah Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. He was active in his church, Trinity Episcopal in Shepherdstown, where he was a Trustee, served on the Vestry and initiated recycling in Shepherdstown. He also donated over 320 pints of blood to the American Red Cross. He has served on the United Way, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson County Board of Education, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, Jefferson County Development Authority, and others too many to name.

Connie managed to squeeze about 170 years of living into his 85 years of life. Connie multi-tasked before the word was invented. He rarely sat still and when he did, it was often with a book in his hand and 1 or 2 sporting events on the TV, all of which he seemed to have a complete mastery of what was happening. Every day was full and he seemed to balance work, family, service and sporting activities flawlessly. He enjoyed competition as a way to push himself to be the best he could be. He played tennis, golf and basketball competitively well into his 80’s. His 3 on 3 basketball team won the gold medal at the National Senior Olympics in 1995 and the silver medal in 2013. His passion on the playing fields was unmatched.

He was also an ardent spectator and followed a number of teams, especially the West Virginia Mountaineers. Connie knew no strangers, as everyone he met was interrogated as to who they were, where they were from and, inevitably, who they knew in common. He made all acquaintances into friends and retained this treasure trove of information in his encyclopedic memory which he often times tried to impart in great detail to his children and grandchildren. The grandchildren will remember him as a larger than life person who would greet them with an oversized bear hug and a smile.

Connie valued education and one of his proudest moments came at the graduation of his last grandchild when he realized his dream that all of his children and grandchildren had graduated from college.

Connie leaves behind a legacy in the form of his family, his grandchildren and a great-grandchild. His life’s lesson to us all is that every second of every day should be lived to its fullest, that all of us can make the world a little better by what we do.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Shepherdstown, with The Rev. Dr. G.T. Schramm officiating.

Interment will be private

Arrangements by Melvin T. Strider Colonial Funeral Home, Charles Town.

Please sign the online guestbook and view his obituary at www.mtstrider.com

Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Caregivers, P.O. Box 1882, Shepherdstown, WV 25443, Trinity Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 308, Shepherdstown, WV 25443, Peterkin Episcopal Camp and Conference Center, 286 Club House Road, Romney, WV 26757 and Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WV 25430