Remembering Dick Hammond, Co-Founder of FOTCOH

It is with deep respect that I share the passing of FOTCOH co-founder, Dick Hammond.

Because of Dick and Barb’s commitment to bringing health and hope to the people of Haiti, FOTCOH exists. Their courage and commitment helped build something lasting: consistent, dignified healthcare for families in southern Haiti who have had far too few options for far too long.

This year marks 35 years of care through FOTCOH. What began as a bold vision has grown into a year-round medical operation serving more than 18,000 patients each year.

While Dick stepped away from day-to-day operations in 2014, he remained deeply invested in FOTCOH’s direction and future. As an active board member, he was a trusted voice, a steady presence, and a keeper of our story, always willing to share the history that shaped this work and the values that must never be lost.

Over the past decade, FOTCOH has strengthened the continuity of care, deepened patient trust, and built a model designed to last. It is one of the clearest reflections of what Dick and Barb believed from the beginning: this work should be sustainable, locally led, and here for the long haul.

In the weeks ahead, we will share more about Dick’s life and the legacy he helped shape.

 If you would like to honor his legacy in a way that directly sustains the work they helped build, I invite you to join the Hammond Founder Circle, FOTCOH’s monthly giving community. Monthly support is one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen year-round patient care and ensure the clinic can keep responding as needs grow.

Thank you for standing with FOTCOH and for carrying forward the vision Dick helped set in motion 35 years ago.

In honor of Dick’s enduring impact,

Nathan Ruby