Obituary of Alfred Hammon
Alfred (Al) Hammon of Smithville, NJ passed away on March 11, 2024 at the age of 97. He was born in Elizabeth, NJ in 1926 to Otto and Johanna Hammon from Furth, Bavaria, Germany. After graduating from Plainfield High School, Al received an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in KingsPoint, NY as a Cadet-Midshipman. With WWII underway, he found himself serving aboard troop ships operating in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans during and after the war. He graduated in 1947 as a licensed Third Officer in the Merchant Marines and commissioned as Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Al continued his pursuit in the maritime industry at Georgetown University where he earned a Bachelor of Science, Foreign Service in 1950. After graduation from Georgetown, Al was ordered to the Navy for a two year tour of duty during the Korean War (1952-54)as a Lieutenant Junior Grade, Cargo Operations Officer. He remained in the Inactive Reserve until retirement as a Commander in 1968.
Upon release of active duty in 1954, Al was employed with American Export Lines in New York City andlater transferred to their Philadelphia office. It was in Philadelphia where he met his future wife, Joanne Chapman from Pottsville, PA. They were married in December of 1956, and returned to the New York area, residing first in Plainfield, NJ and then eventually settling in North Plainfield, NJ, where they raised their two children, Suzanne and Jeffrey.
Shortly after moving to New York, Al joined The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, located in Manhattan. He also pursued his graduate degree from New York University’s School of Business during this time, graduating in 1965. Al spent 31 successful years with the NYNJ Port Authority and was very active in numerous port and maritime activities and achieved many accomplishments. He authored the New York Port Handbook in 1958; served as Chairman of the Ship Channels and Harbors Committee of the American Association of Port Authorities; acted as the Association’s representative for the U.S. Department of Commerce Coastal Zone Management Advisory Committee; resided as President of the North Atlantic Ports Association from 1984-86; represented the Port Authority before Congressional committees, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard on port navigation projects; received the Unit Citation Award, Distinguished Service Medal, and Award of Achievement. He handed down all his maritime knowledge by becoming an Associate Professor at SUNY Maritime College, Ft. Schuyler, NY.
During his time at the NYNJ Port Authority, Al resided in North Plainfield, NJ. His civic interests there included serving as Chairman of the Planning Board, Vice Chairman of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Vice President of the North Plainfield Business Association, and member of the North Plainfield Library Board of Trustees and the Green Brook Flood Control Commission.
He retired in 1987, as the Manager of Harbor Planning, leaving behind his office in the World Trade Center. The fond memories of his time in NY would change to somber remembrances after the 9/11 bombings. He was fortunate to have no colleagues remaining in the building, but devastated by the loss of lives and thinking about the many times he exited the PATH train and ascended to his office in the South Tower, without incident.
After retirement, he continued as a port development consultant for clients including the Nassau Bahamas Port Authority, Port Everglades Authority, Delaware Port Authority, Port of Salem New Jersey Authority, New Jersey Alliances for Action, and the Global Marine Container Terminal.
In 1998, Al and Joanne relocated to South Jersey. They spent six years in Ocean City and continued his civil service there. He became Secretary of the Ocean City Utility Advisory Commission, Founder and President of the Southern New Jersey Shore Chapter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association, and a director on his condominium association board. In 2004, they moved to Smithville during which time he served as Trustee and Usher at the Margate Community Church.
Al’s initial ambition was to become a naval architect and design ships, especially yachts. World War II altered his path, but never his love for boats. Instead, he spent many hours assembling and rigging model replicas of some of his most beloved vessels. A hobby that required precision and meticulous attention to detail, both traits that he possessed. In fact, all of his hobbies centered on boats. In the summer, you could find him sailing or motoring on the Metedeconk and Navesink rivers near Little Silver, NJ. At other times of the year, he enjoyed cruising the ocean with his wife Joanne where they enjoyed meeting new friends and dining at the captain’s table.
He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 67 years, Joanne, who passed away just 3 months ago.
He also leaves behind his daughter Suzanne Caravousanos and grandson Nicholas; son Jeffrey (Shelly), and granddaughters, Kaitlin and Elizabeth.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024, from 10 to 10:30 a.m., at Wilson Memorial Union Church, 7 Valley Road, Watchung, NJ. A funeral service will follow at the church, commencing at 10:30 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Hillside Cemetery, 1401 Woodland Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ.
