Terrence “Terry” Michael Hammill

September 4, 2026

Terrence “Terry” Michael Hammill, 85; devoted husband of the late Martha Hammill (née Trembly,) passed away on Friday, September 4, 2026; surrounded by family.

He was pre-deceased by his wife of nearly 60 years, Martha, in 2023.  Born in 1940, Terry grew up in Brasier Falls as the oldest of seven children.  During his youth and high school years he had an Irish Setter named Red “Reddie,” worked paper routes, played saxophone in a local band called The Bellaires, and served as a mason’s apprentice.  He attended Potsdam College from 1959 to 1963, where he met his loving wife, Martha.  During summers he bartended at Cavallario’s in Alexandria Bay, where he enjoyed serving retired boxer Carmen Basilio, who had defeated Sugar Ray Robinson for the middleweight title in 1957.  After teaching Biology at Indian River High School, he earned a Master of Science in Biology from the University of Georgia and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Syracuse University College of Environmental Science and Forestry program in 1971.  Terry moved with his family to Oswego, NY and began teaching at SUNY Oswego.  He served as a Professor of Biology from 1971 until his retirement in 2002, where he was department chair for several years and received the Distinguished Teaching Professor award, a rarity in the SUNY system.  His years as department chair coincided with his service as Mayor of Oswego from 1994 to 1999.  As mayor he helped arrange an invitation for a Russian team through the Oswego Minor Hockey Association; the following year he traveled to Russia with members of Oswego Minor Hockey Association; the following year he traveled to Russia with members of Oswego Hockey to ensure it was safe for local teams to play there.  He noted that some of the Russian staff had been players on the 1980 Olympic Hockey team and recalled them saying, in disbelief, “Terry, those were just kids!”  He also traveled to France to lecture on the New York State Canal System and served on many committees over the years.  He later served as Chairman of the Board of the Port of Oswego Authority, resigning in 2019.

In the early 1980s, Terry was a member of the local Hot Stove Baseball Association and was instrumental in starting the first girls’ softball league, which met with immediate success.  He coached Little League Baseball and led the newly expanded Vona’s team to the league championship in just three years, in 1983.  He and Martha were active members of the Oswego Yacht Club in the 1980s and 1990s.  He was also a Board Member of the Opera Theater and Maritime Foundation, volunteered in the school system and athletics and remained engaged in community life.

In retirement Terry’s days were filled with his love of reading, his passion for music, boating, and studying and lecturing on race, ancestry and genealogy.  One of seven children, Terry was predeceased by his parents, Jeremiah and Margaret Hammill, and his brother Thomas.

He is survived by his sons:  Michael (Diane) and Jeffery (Terri) his four grandchildren:  Kevin (Carmen Flores,) Sarah (Joe Guzzo,) McKenna, Michael Fantom and two great grandchildren:  Adam Guzzo and Sofia Hammill Flores; his brothers and sisters:  Jane Hampton, Kathleen Hammill, Stephen Hammill, Stephanie Wood and Jeremiah (Nancy) Hammill, sister-in-law:  Lelis Delgado and many nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to the owners and members of the Coffee Connection, his neighbors at the Harbor House Condos, and his caring caregivers for keeping him safe, entertained and laughing.

He will be remembered with love by his family and by all who knew him as a dedicated educator, community leader, coach, and cherished member of the Hammill family.

Calling Hours will be held 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Sunday at the Sugar & Scanlon Funeral Home, 147 W. 4^th St., Oswego, NY.

A private Graveside Service will be conducted at Riverside Cemetery, Oswego, NY at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Terrence’s memory are invited to make donations to the Oswego Opera Theater, P.O. Box 3039, Oswego, NY 13126, [email protected]