Thruston Houk Hammer

Thruston Houk Hammer, 101, of Concord, MA was taken to heaven on, Sunday, March 24, 2024, at his home. 

He was born in Lexington, Massachusetts on February 5, 1923, to Alexander McKenzie Hammer (Brookline) and his mother, Sarah Talbott (Houk) Hammer (Dayton, Ohio). Thrus graduated from Phillips Andover Academy (1942), where he played baseball and was captain of the hockey team.  He graduated from Yale University (class of 45-W), after having his education interrupted while he proudly served as an Ensign in the United States Navy during WWII on the L.S.T 1040.  He played baseball at Yale.  Thrus married Bessie (Amidon) and raised three children in Red Acre Village, Stow, MA, until her death.  

Thrus enjoyed a successful career with the Provident Mutual Insurance Company and later worked in public relations at the Lahey Clinic in Boston.   He served for years on the school committee and worked tirelessly as chairman to regionalize three towns into Nashoba Regional High School. 

He was a faithful member of the West Concord Union Church.  He worked as an interpreter at Sturbridge Village until he was 95 and could no longer drive.  An eternal optimist, he loved all activities at the West Concord Council on Aging, The Public Library, and the Audio book for the blind program.   He was a regular walker at the Concord Reservoir year-round.  

Thrus was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.  He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Mary (Hudner) Hammer, of Concord, MA; his children, Christine (Stephen) Korhn of Defiance, Ohio and Linda Fraser of Hudson, MA; eight grandchildren, Sarah, Matthew, Laura, Erik, Caroline, Alex, Brent and Mackenzie and six great-grandchildren.  Thrus was predeceased by his son, James.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Thruston on Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Fowler-Kennedy Funeral Home, 42 Concord Street, Maynard. His Graveside Service will be celebrated on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Bedford Street, Concord. 

Gifts in Thruston’s memory may be made to Concord Council on Aging. 1276 Main Street Concord, Ma. 01742.