Morris County Laments the Loss of Stephen W. Hammond
Published on July 27, 2022
Morris County issued its condolences to the family of Stephen W. Hammond, who served as Morris County’s Director of Public Works and County Engineer from 2005 through 2013, after serving as Assistant Morris County Engineer from 1998.
The county learned of his passing yesterday, July 26, 2022.
“Steve was a long-time valued member of the Morris County family. His career was focused on public service to the residents of Morris County. Whenever you called Steve, he would resolve the issue quickly and professionally. His retirement left big shoes to fill and he has been missed by his friends and staff at Morris County. My thoughts and prayers are with his family,” said Commissioner Douglas Cabana, who has served on the board since 1997.
Mr. Hammond began his service with Morris County in 1970 as Assistant Engineer with what was then called the Morris County Engineering Department, becoming Senior Engineer in 1974, Principal Engineer in 1976 and Supervising Engineer by 1991.
Frank Druetzler, who had served for 15 years on the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders before they became Commissioners in 2021, remembered Steve as an “engineer's engineer” who always demanded quality work.
“His mind was filled with visionary ideas. He was a friendly person with a sharp wit who was a joy to know,” Druetzler added.
Mr. Hammond oversaw many major projects for Morris County, including the development of the sprawling grounds of the former Greystone State Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township into Morris County’s Central Park, guiding the construction of the Central Park sports fields during his last several years in office.
Under his watch, Morris County also completely renovated and expanded the Morris County Library in 2000, and Mr. Hammond was involved in completing several other significant projects at county complexes on West Hanover Avenue in Morris and Parsippany townships, as well as at Central Park. Among them were the expansion of the Morris County Public Safety and Training Academy, construction of the Department of Human Services Building, development of the new Morris View Nursing Home and upgrading facilities for Health Management Services.
Mr. Hammond additionally supervised the $15 million replacement of the Route 202 Reservoir Bridge, which spans the narrow north end of the Jersey City Reservoir to connect Parsippany Road in Parsippany to Washington Street in Boonton. The project, which was finished in 2005, included preserving as a walking path the original, historic Pratt truss style span that was built in 1895 and remains on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mr. Hammond held a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he graduated in 1975 after majoring in traffic and transportation. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1969.
He was a Fellow in the Institute of Transportation Engineers as well as a founding member and past president of the County and Municipal Traffic Engineers Association