Ivan Hammond

[Sam Gnagey]

It's been reported that Ivan died in a motorcycle accident in southern Indiana sometime between Friday evening and Saturday morning. He was a student of Bill Bell at Indiana University when several of us old guys were there too. For many years he was professor of tuba at Bowling Green University in Ohio. Ivan was a quirky, soft-spoken gentleman, truly a unique individual.
Many of the tuba students in the late 1960s era of IU developed a real brotherhood working together on the opera stage crew. Ivan was one of our mentors.

[bisontuba]

R.I.P. Ivan.....

[Michael Grant]

Very sad news. Ivan had many great stories about his time working on the opera sets at IU. He and Connie loved riding their motorcycles. I had the pleasure of studying with him at BGSU in 1982-83. He had a great studio and I really enjoyed the other students and his company. He was a kind person with a laid back teaching approach. Don’t confuse that with easy. He liked early morning lessons and had high expectations. I still recall (with frustration) how he insisted I use the French horn parts when working on the Mozart horn concertos. He had a great sense of humor and lessons were fun. In addition to all the lessons on tuba and music, he also taught me the joy of Oreos with peanut butter and carrots with peanut butter. I still put peanut butter on Oreos. Ivan was a wonderful role model, mentor, player and person. He will be missed. R.I.P., Ivan.

[tbonesullivan]

Oh man, as a fellow rider, that's sad to hear. I think Alan Baer rides as well. But it sounds like he led a great life, and impacted the lives of many people. He was doing what he loved.

[Big Toot]

May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

[hbcrandy]

I only knew Ivan by phone. He was a great guy! In the early 1980's, Ivan sold me a King, rotary valved CC tuba. Rest in peace, Ivan.

[Davidus1]

Very sorry to hear this. RIP. Prayers to the family.

[swillafew]

I had a year of lessons with Ivan, he was a good guy. My favorite observation of his was that he played in two brass quintets, one BGSU studio faculty and one Toledo Symphony players. BG group rehearsed all the time, and the Toledo group got the music on approval and sight read it on gigs. They would buy what they thought worked out well. It was an eye opener for me, and when I got the chance I started a group that rehearsed just a tiny bit and performed as much as possible.

I am pleased to have known him. I owned a motorcycle until this year. If you have one, please be careful. My own health is good but the least problem can be lethal and having had a few issues, it was time to be done.

[Worth]

It is always sad news when something like this happens, but he was living more than most 78 year olds are, much respect given. At least he went out doing something that made him feel alive. Here's a pix from Rolling Thunder 2018 in the Pentagon parking lot with my bike in the foreground. It's a feeling of freedom unlike any other. I didn't know Ivan, but somehow I do in another way. A kindred spirit gone too soon.