Veteran Theater Journalist John Hammond Dies

Born in Union City, New Jersey, Hammond earned a B.A. in English from Columbia College. In addition to his work as a theater journalist, he was a writer and editor for Moorehouse/Barlow, New York University Press, the Museum of Modern Art (NY), the New York Native, Opera Monthly, and the literary magazine Christopher Street. A gay activist, he co-founded the International Gay History Archive in 1981; the collection is now housed in the Rare Books and Manuscripts division of the New York Public Library. In 2001, Hammond relocated to Toronto, Canada and was involved with the historic house museums there, launching and editing a newsletter for volunteers.

Hammond is survived by his life partner, Bruce Eves (the couple was married at Toronto’s City Hall on March 24 of this year); his sister, Hildegarde Hammond; and a cousin, Geraldine Heydt. The family requests that financial contributions in John Hammond’s memory are to be donated to the Spadina House and Garden Museum at 285 Spadina Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 2V5 (Please make checks out to: “Treasurer, City of Toronto, Spadina Museum”) and/or LEGIT-Toronto (Lesbian and Gay Immigration Task Force) at P.O. Box 111 Station F, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4Y 2L4. A memorial service is planned; please contact evesham@sympatico.ca for more information.