Lyle G. Hamm

Lyle George Hamm, of Hudson, NY, affectionately known to his hundreds of students and friends as “Hammy,” and to his 7 grandchildren as “Becky,” passed away at Albany Medical Center after a long and courageous battle with cancer on April 1st, 2020. Lyle is survived by his wife of 27-years Rose Anne Hamm, of Hudson, his daughter Jessica Chiera (Frank) of Valatie, their children Zac, Jarid and Felicia, his daughter Jene Luciani (Patrick Sena) of Rotterdam, their children Gianina, Ayva, Patrick and Kalen, his brother-in-law Dale Rowe of Mellenville, his nephew Sean Rowe of Mellenville (Michelle), and their children, his niece Courtney Hutchings of Oswego (Daniel) and their children, and cousins and other beloved family members. To say that Lyle influenced hundreds - if not thousands - of young people in his lifetime, would be an understatement. Lyle spent the majority of his life, teaching others.. In his nearly four decade tenure as a music and band teacher at Taconic Hills, many students credited him with changing their lives, and “caring when no one else did.” One student even dedicated her Grammy award to him. While leading the school marching band, he took them around the country for competitions, and outside school hours, spent his time coaching various sports including girls field hockey, boys swimming and girls track and field. When he announced his retirement, hundreds of students gathered to give him a “Mr, Holland’s Opus” style send-off, which was covered in many local papers. But Lyle never really retired. He spent nearly every weekday as a substitute at that same school he’d grown up in and graduated from, and spent his entire career at. Teaching was in his blood. Outside of school, Lyle was an avid triathlete, having once raced alongside Christopher Reeve. Referring to himself as the “real life David Hasselhoff,” in a nod to the popular Baywatch series, he relished the 35-summers he spent as a lifeguard at Lake Taghkanic State Park, training many other lifeguards over the years. He served on the ski patrol at Catamount, the Philmont rescue squad, did CPR and first-aid certifications for the Red Cross, was a member of the Columbia County Republican Committee, and was an active parishioner at Holy Trinity (St. Mary’s) in Hudson. Lyle’s phone rang off the hook (and still, as we write this, is ringing) with people asking for his help, whether it’s for a lifeguard certification, a past student asking for a reference, asking for swim lessons for their children, or his daughters looking for advice. Those who know Lyle know that when he loved, he loved hard. Such was his love for the music of the Beach Boys (“the only good music there is“), his beloved Kentucky Bourbon, his Minnesota Vikings (even when they were 2 and 11), his alma mater Murray State, and southern food. He wasn’t at all demanding (in fact, his wife Rose could often be found sitting around eating bon bons), had the temperament of a kitten, and loved onions. That last sentence, was our April Fool’s joke for you, Dad. The family will hold a private burial and will be hosting a public memorial service, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Lyle G. Hamm

August 12, 1948 - April 1, 2020

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Lyle G. Hamm

August 12, 1948 - April 1, 2020

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