Danville, PA - Robert "Bob" Martin Hammerlee, 87, died Monday, July 20, 2026, at Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community in Danville, PA.

Bob was born at home in Polk, PA, on January 9, 1939, the third of three brothers, to George Glenn and Mildred Anna (Weaver) Hammerlee.

He graduated from Franklin High School, and served in the United States Navy at Camp Pendleton from 1956 to 1959.

Bob later moved to Oakland, CA, where, for two decades, he was a tennis teaching professional at the Claremont Country Club. He was an Elite Professional and a 30-year member of the United States Professional Tennis Association.

In 1992, a year after relocating to Lewisburg, PA (where everyone called him "Hammer"), he became the head coach of men's tennis at Bucknell University. Over a ten-year career, he became the fourth all-time winningest coach in Bucknell's men's tennis history. He was voted the 1997 Patriot League Coach-of-the-Year by his fellow league coaches.

Bob loved to sing the old standards, played the banjo and ukulele, performed in "The Mikado" and "Pirates of Penzance," and moonlit as a much in-demand wedding singer. He was conversant in Spanish, French and Italian, and read and traveled widely.

Bob is survived by two nephews, three nieces, many lifelong friends, and the countless students of all ages he coached in what he called the "sport for a lifetime." Late in life, he shared a happy decade with Miranda McGinnis, whose family Bob loved as his own. And who, when the time came, worked tirelessly to arrange his move to Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community.

Bob was preceded in death by his brothers, Rev. Glenn W. Hammerlee and Rev. James D. Hammerlee, as well as one nephew and one niece.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Maria Joseph for their devoted care of Bob, and encourages donations may be made to Maria Joseph (mariajosephccc.org).

Sadly, Bob never completed his oft-promised memoir, "My Life in Short Pants," about the life his beloved sport provided him. He was too busy living it.