Greenfield-Edward “Skip” Hammond, 76, of Birchwood Farm on Leyden Road passed away suddenly, yet peacefully, on Wednesday 7/19/17 at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.  He was born on June 2, 1941, the son of Glen and Margaret Hammond.  Skip attended local schools in Greenfield and was a graduate of Greenfield High School, Class of 1959.  He continued his education at the University of Massachusetts in 1963, obtaining a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in French.

Skip served his country as a member of the United States Army from 1963 – 1965 on active duty as a Commanding Officer of an Armor Training Unit at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  By the end of his service, he had earned the distinction of first Lieutenant and received the Army’s medal of commendation.

Upon returning from his service in the army, Skip became the manager of Gribbon’s Band Instruments.  He began working at Gribbon’s as a young boy and continued to be employed throughout his time in high school and college before serving in the army.  Skip worked as manager of Gribbon’s from 1965 – 1969 before purchasing the business and becoming President from 1969 – 1983.  Gribbon’s provided new, used, and rental band instruments and supplies to Greenfield public schools and the surrounding area for many years.

During 1983, in the wake of Proposition 2 ½ in Massachusetts, Skip founded GBI Marketing, a local family run fundraising company aimed at providing fundraising options to local schools and other non-profit organizations, helping them fill the financial gap created by limited state resources.  He owned and operated GBI until 2004, when it was sold to the Yankee Candle Company.  At the time of the sale, GBI had grown from a local, New England based operation to a nationwide business, serving over 5000 non-profit groups each year.  Through his efforts over a 20 year period, countless organizations were able to raise critical funds to sustain valuable programs and services to their local communities.

Throughout his life, Skip was an active member of the community, devoting both his time and personal resources for the betterment of the local area. He was an Honorary Director and former member of the Greenfield Savings Bank Board of Directors; a former member and past President of the Greenfield Rotary Club and recipient of The Rotary International Paul Harris Award for outstanding service; Founder, past member and President of the Greenfield Teen Center, first established through a community wide volunteer effort in 1983; past member and Co-chair of the Greenfield Fire Study Committee; past member of the Bernardston Business Association; former member and past chairman of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and also served on the FCCC Executive Board; former member and former Director of the Greenfield Community College Foundation and a Pacesetter business member of the GCC Foundation Annual Campaign; former member of the Greenfield Health & Safety Commission; former member of the Board of Directors for Greenfield Community Television; and provided multiple donations of his time and resources to the Greenfield and Bernardston Police, Fire, and other local agencies.

Besides his beloved wife of fifty-one years, Kathleen (Langan) Hammond, Skip leaves a son, Shane Hammond of Bernardston; a daughter, Kerry Hammond and her life partner Jason Bassett of Northfield; a sister, Marion Scott of Shelburne Falls; two sisters in law, Patricia Jordan and Nancy Langan, both of Greenfield; a brother in law, Robert Langan of Mississippi; several nieces and a nephew.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday 7/25 at 9:15am from the Kostanski Funeral Home, 220 Federal Street, Greenfield followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10am at Holy Trinity Church with the Monsignor Ronald Yargeau officiating.  Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Greenfield with full military honors to be observed by the United States Army assisted by the Northfield VFW Post 9874, with a firing detail.

Calling hours will be held Monday evening from 4-7pm at the funeral home. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Skip Hammond Scholarship Fund at Greenfield Community College c/o the GCC Foundation, 270 Main St, Greenfield, MA 01301. 

Sympathy message available at www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.

 Service Information