There are hundreds of tributes not only from former students, but several local organizations recognized his kindness and generosity for the countless fundraisers where he appeared as both a solo performer and as the founder and heart and soul of The Ghost Town Cryers. When she announced his passing on his Facebook page last week, the response was immediate and overwhelming. Many would go on to perform before audiences of all sizes.
Hammel said he taught between 26 to 30 students a week and over the course of 30 years, he would influence thousands of students to not only play guitar, but instill in them a level of confidence they never knew they had. He had that ability to make you feel better.” “Sometimes he would sit with a student and just listen and the guitars never came out of the cases. A friend of mine was one of Pat’s students and she joked his music lessons were cheaper than going to see a therapist. “I, like so many thousands of others he taught over the years, just marvelled at his patience and his ability to make you feel better. “No matter how badly you felt or what you were going through, Pat just had a passion for life,” she told the Leader. His widow, Kathy, said although the diagnosis left little room for optimism, he was determined to live life to the fullest and continue to do what he loved most, and that involved teaching music and performing for as long as he was able. He was diagnosed with Glioblastoma in March 2020 after he began having difficulty with vision in his left eye.
Pat Hammel died at his Pembroke home surrounded by family at the age of 55.
Pembroke – A local musician who passed away last week after a courageous battle with brain cancer is being remembered not only for his constant smile and love of all things Irish, but also as a teacher, mentor, performer, amateur therapist and a man whose passion for music and the Ottawa Valley will live on long after his ashes are scattered near his beloved cottage deep in Algonquin Park.
0 kommentar(er)
