David Lee Hammock

September 17, 1953 – April 6, 2011

David Lee Hammock passed away peacefully on April 6, 2011, surrounded by the love of family and friends, at the too-young age of 57, following a valiant year-long battle with
cancer.

David was born in 1953 to a loving family, and raised in the foothills of Santa Barbara. He spent an idyllic childhood roaming through the local mountains and creeks, which was the beginning of his life-long love affair with the great outdoors. David was a dedicated surfer, a vintage car aficionado, and a 3rd generation member of the Western Racing Association. David was not a complicated person: he loved nothing more than spending time in the ocean waiting for the next good wave; spending time with his many friends; spending time in his large vegetable garden each summer, from which he made the best fresh salsa in town; spending time with his kids; and especially spending time with his dad building (and rebuilding) vintage and vintage-style hotrods, and racing them on the dirt racetracks in the California desert.

It was important to David that he was a good son, a good brother, a good husband, a good father, and a good friend. He was the beloved son of Henry Lee Hammock of Missouri and Frances Sterrett Hammock of Santa Barbara. He was the affectionate brother of Dale (Hammock) Proffitt and Donny Hammock. David was a father of three, and is survived by his children, Nicole Hammock and Tyler Hammock of Santa Barbara, and Dustin Putnam (Laura) of Ventura, and his grand-daughter Eliana. David is survived by his spouse (since August of 2007), Joan Maddalon. David was a third-generation Santa Barbaran, and is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews throughout the area.

The family hopes that friends will gather with them in mid-May at Goleta Beach, followed by a paddle-out at Campus Point, where David first learned to surf at the age of 12. Contact Lee and Franny Hammock or Joan Maddalon for more information.

David’s family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara for their dedication, caring and support during the early months of David’s battle, as well as to the UCLA Medical Center for the attentive and excellent care he received during the last half of his battle. Donations can be made in David’s name to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara so that other families may also find assistance and hope.