Jack Curtis Hammett Jr.

Jack Curtis Hammett Jr. of Paeonian Springs died in Leesburg, Virginia on New Year's Day 2018. Jack was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on December 29, 1939 to Barbara Aileen Hammett (1917-2017) and Jack C. Hammett (1916-1987). He grew up as an Eagle Scout, enthusiastic amateur radio competitor (K4VV), and graduated from Little Rock Central High School. Jack was married to his high school sweetheart, Carol Ann (nee Raines) Hammett of Little Rock, from December 27, 1961 until her death in 2000. Jack was a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and earned a doctoral degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Okinawa (1965) and Vietnam. He continued on active duty with the U.S. Army Signal Corps for over 20 years, contributed to the original ARPANET and numerous other advanced communications projects, and achieved the rank of Colonel. He then joined Science Applications International Corporation as a senior vice president and group manager for over a decade. Jack also developed an amateur multi/multi- contest radio station and served as an active member and past President of the Potomac Valley Radio Club. Jack was married to Sharon Long of Shreveport, Louisiana from 2002 until his death. Sharon remained his loving partner during his senescence with Alzheimer's disease and survives him. Jack also leaves his beloved family of two daughters, Laura H. Millard (Charles B.) of Frederick, Maryland and Lisa H. Price (Jon) of Indiana, Pennsylvania; three grandchildren, Charles B. Millard, Joshua C. and Caleb L. Price; his step-daughter, Karen Costello of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his step-sons Bobby Long of Apex, North Carolina and Thomas Clay Long of Jacksonville, Florida; nine step-grandchildren; the family of Jeanne (nee Raines) and Jim Ayars of Clovis, California; and many friends and fellow service members. A Celebration of Jack's life will be held at St. James' Episcopal Church, Leesburg, Va. on Saturday, January 20 at 12:30 p.m.