On May 22, 2024, the Pasadena High School community honored a wonderful teacher, mentor and friend, Mrs. Harriet Hammond (1931 – 2022). The Pasadena High School Library was renamed in her honor – the Harriet Hammond Library Media Center.Thank you to everyone who joined us to honor and celebrate our dear friend – especially her family from Texas and North Carolina.
Mrs. Hammond’s 40-year career with Pasadena Unified was entirely at Pasadena High School. She taught countless students, inspired many colleagues, and created a treasure trove of lasting memories and lessons. Her instruction brought math to life and impacted generations of students, with a few following in her footsteps as math teachers themselves. In the classroom, she was a devout educator, truly believing that every student had the potential to excel in mathematics. Outside the classroom, it was a common sight to see Mrs. Hammond cheering on the athletes, musicians, and dancers on Friday nights. For many years, Mrs. Hammond led a legion of Bulldogs to victory at the annual Math Field Day.
Mrs. Hammond left an everlasting impact on our community during her tenure. Even as her students graduated, class by class, she continued to reach out with greetings and warm wishes during the holiday seasons. More touching, Mrs. Hammond always inquired about one’s future plans and life updates while sharing some of her own. Since her retirement in 2020, we have greatly missed seeing her on campus everyday. Her death on December 28, 2023 was a tragic loss for the entire Bulldog community.
The following is from her Celebration of Life and Love held on January 12, 2024:
Harriet Elizabeth Gregg was born on September 19, 1931 in Baltimore, Maryland to Joshua and Hilda Gregg. She was the first born of four children. Harriet and her siblings were raised in a Christian home in the Maryland countryside. Harriet went to live with her grandmother (affectionately known as Grand Hattie) in Washington D.C., where she attended Paul Lawrence Dunnbar High School. Harriet was an active member of the Jr. ROTC.
After high school Harriet attended and graduated from Howard University in Washington D.C. Harriet earned her Bachelor’s in Mathematics from Howard. She graduated with honors. Continuing her education at Howard University, and at the age of 22, Harriet earned her Master’s degree also graduating with honors. While at Howard University, she was a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
After graduation, Harriet was recruited by several major U.S. Companies – International Business Machines (IBM) being a major recruiter. The passion to be an educator, and to follow in her father’s footsteps, Harriet decided to become an educator; thus embarking on a 65 year career as a math teacher. Her career had stops in Baltimore, Maryland, Bronx, New York, culminating in a 40 year stop at Pasadena High School (PHS). She served long enough to teach children of former students and to have former students return to PHS as teachers.
On August 8, 1954, Harriet married Albert Hammond Jr. in Baltimore Maryland. From this union, two children were born – Melayne and Myron. Harriet is survived by her two children, daughter-in-law (Sylvia Rivera Hammond), two grandchildren (Nyla and Isaiah), and many nieces and nephews.
She will be buried along side her husband Albert, Jr., who preceded her in death in 2003.