Honoring the Life and Legacy of
Molly Roth Hamaker
Obituary
Molly Roth Hamaker, 68, died at home surrounded by her loving family on February 4, 2022, in Oak Park, IL. She lived in Walnut Creek, CA, for 35 years before moving her multigenerational household cross-country to Illinois last year, despite the pandemic and her struggle with pancreatic cancer.
Molly led a dynamic life, balancing family, work, friends and community involvement. Motivated to make the world a better place, especially for her children and grandchildren, Molly applied her remarkable energy, smarts, initiative, and gift of the gab to worthy projects both big and small. She placed a high priority on the people in her life, connecting readily and forming many lasting friendships over the years. Molly will be missed by all who knew her and remembered for her generosity, kindness and sense of a greater good.
Born in 1953 in Kansas City, KS, Molly also spent many childhood summers in Brooklyn, NY, with her grandparents. In 1969, at age 16, she went away to Webster College in St. Louis, MO. After marrying in 1971, she moved with her first husband, Dave, to Lawrence, KS, where daughters Dawn and Alita were born. In 1983 she married Charlie Hamaker, and two years later, following the birth of daughter Irene, the family moved to Walnut Creek, CA, where son Zach was born.
A natural collaborator and leader, she was just 21 years old in 1974 when she co-founded and became the first manager of the Community Mercantile, a cooperative natural foods grocery store and local institution still operating in Lawrence today. She was a work collective member until her departure from the co-op in 1982.
In between working and raising four kids, Molly continued to pursue her college degree. She graduated with a BA in 1990, on the same day her oldest daughter graduated from high school. She went on to earn an MA in educational psychology in 2002, the same year her youngest daughter graduated from high school.
Molly practiced as a school psychologist only briefly, but her interest in education was long-standing. As a parent she had been involved in alternative elementary school programs in Kansas in the 1970s as a founding board member for the Lawrence Open School and in California in the 1990s as an early participant and board president at Parkmead Active Learning School (PALS) in Walnut Creek.
In 2006, Molly entered the mental health field as a founding board member of Putnam Clubhouse, a community-based program for adults recovering from serious mental illness. Inspired by her first-hand experience with the lack of resources available to families and their loved ones suffering from mental illness, she served as executive director for much of her time with the Clubhouse until her retirement in 2019.
While her community impact was extensive, Molly’s primary work for more than 25 years was as an independent business development consultant, focusing on small organizations and individuals whose missions she admired. Her interest in food and wellness continued into her California years where she promoted farmer’s markets, worked professionally with Frances Moore Lappé and Mollie Katzen (two of her early food heroes), and co-founded and sold the online store Natural Candy Store with two of her daughters.
Molly relished her memories of hitchhiking through Europe as a teenager. When her children were older, she traveled extensively with Charlie, prioritizing locales where she could indulge in her love of snorkeling. She also enjoyed seeking out vegan restaurants in the cities she visited around the world.
Molly will be dearly missed by her devoted husband of 38 years, Charlie; children Dawn, Alita, Irene and Zach; granddaughters Frankie and Dora; brother Clifford; and half-sisters Sara and Elisheva. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bobbie and George, and her brother Donald.
A virtual Celebration of Life was held on March 6, 2022. For more information and to share memories, please see below.
Virtual Celebration of Life
& Online Reception
Recorded Sunday, March 6, 2022
The Hamaker family invites you to view the virtual Celebration of Life Service & Reception honoring Molly’s life and legacy.
The Virtual Celebration of Life for
David Leon Sheets
Recorded Feb 26, 2021
Goodness of God - David Sheets Memorial Choir
This song embodies the way David Sheets lived his life. In every situation, no matter the difficulty, he would proclaim God’s goodness.
David Sheets lived a life devoted to Jesus. He spent the majority of his career as a music minister & choir director in churches around the US. The Sheets family put out a call for anyone who had served with David to join a virtual choir in his honor. What you see here is just a small picture of his legacy impact on the Kingdom of God. We pray this song blesses you and encourages you today.
Slide Show
Photo Gallery
In Lieu Of Flowers Please Consider Donating:
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)
This is the organization Molly turned to for guidance during her difficult journey. In addition to providing patient services, PanCAN funds critical research and advocacy in the fight against pancreatic cancer.
Note: An annual fundraising walk called “Move for Molly” is being organized by Molly’s cousins in honor of her birthday in June. It’s a virtual event so folks can walk when and where convenient. More info to come. The button below takes you to her page where you can donate anytime to contribute to the fundraising goal.
Molly was an inspiration to me in her love of family and of life. I’m very sorry for her loss.
With love to Molly’s wonderful family
This picture is from a “Multi-Generational Birthday” party, honoring
Grandpa Mike (75), George (50),
Clifford (25)
From L to R : Jamie ( married to Cliff at time) Cliff, Molly holding Dawn, David Van Hee, Bobbie, George, Grandma Marcia, Grandpa Mike, Donnie, Sharon (Don’s 1st wife)
Leawood, Kansas 1973/74?
I remember the first time I met Molly when my son Jamil was dating Irene. I was nervous, but I had no need to be. Molly and her entire family welcomed me with open arms without any hesitation. We shared many beautiful meals, spirited discussions and family celebrations. I certainly can’t replace Grandma Molly for Frankie and Dora, but as the last Grandma standing, I will do my best. So blessed to have know her.
I met Molly and Dawn at a meeting of Family to Family at NAMI, 15 years ago. We immediately connected and not long after she proposed we start a Clubhouse here in Northern California. I responded “ABSOLUTLEY NOT!!!”
But in her inimitable way she never gave up convincing me it was a good idea. The enormity of the task was terrifying to me. But if you knew Molly, then you know it was hard to say “No” to her.
She was an inspiration to me and so many others. She had a strong confidence and conviction in her actions. She knew who she was. She stood securely in the face of overwhelming life challenges. Her steady assurance made her a born leader. Yet, she never shied from mentoring and encouraging others to shine. She knew her power and wielded it for good. She was collaborative, bringing agencies in the county together to problem solve in a whole new way. Her guidance and participation on the board brought us growth and maturity. Her stint as Executive Director was formidable.
I never won an argument with Molly. She could send the fire if necessary. But darn it, she was almost always right. She maintained a steely confidence in the face of trouble or opposition.
Her family was her prime concern. She was a very dutiful and loving daughter to her mother, Bobby. Alita, Dawn, Irene and Zach were her treasured children, and she was so very proud of them. (Yes! She talked about you all the time!) Charlie is just a wonderful guy, father and was a supportive and great husband to Molly.
Of course, Dora and Frankie were the objects of her delighted and devoted heart. She gave them faithful care and oversight – even fully participating in a move to Chicago;
all the while battling her illness.
I feel so blessed to have known her, as you all must. She was a treasured friend, even counseling me near the end. It isn’t fair and I rail at her loss. But I will never forget her and will always miss her.
With love from the Ospinas
I am amazed. Oak Park, Ill is quite a distance from us who knew her in CA. I have been there. (In Illinois) Thank you for all you did for us here at the Clubhouse.
I love you Aunt Molly
I will be forever grateful to Molly for helping our working group get the Putnam Clubhouse off the ground. We used to say “If we build it they will come.” and they came. Her intelligence, charisma, charm and ability to persuade had a lot to do with it. My two sons thrived because of our success and our success reflected her determination. I admired her greatly. Rest in peace, Molly.
Such a wonderful slide show and obituary reflecting Molly’s impact on her family and others in her life. I am a better person having known her and her loving family. I have many fond memories.
I was blessed to have Molly as a patient as she navigated her way through her heroic battle with pancreatic cancer. I was constantly amazed and inspired by Molly’s wonderful attitude of always looking at the glass being half full and never half empty. She was an incredible human being-kind and compassionate to a fault, always cheerful and optimistic, and most of all, she was the personification of goodness right to her very soul. I feel incredibly privileged to have had the wonderful and inspiring pleasure of knowing her.
I met Molly when she hired me to do the books at Putnam Clubhouse. I admired her very much for being so competent at running the clubhouse and still having time and energy for her own business and always for her family. She helped me navigate mental health issues within my own family too.
My favorite memories with her are walking our dogs around the hood and down by the creek. She was one of a kind. I’m so glad I knew her.
I met Molly at Webster college. She was a true inspiration to me especially in our healthy eating journey. She taught me very much. My favorite memory was when we took over the college kitchen (with permission) and cooked a macrobiotic meal for all interested. I later got my degree in Nutrition which was sparked by my friendship with Molly at Webster.
We reconnected on FB after she was fighting her battle & had many meaningful chats. She fought so hard, stayed positive & enjoyed life (especially her precious grand girls)all the way. She was a blessing to so many & will be greatly missed?
Molly”s legacy of generosity,kindness,good humor,vigor and creativity is flourishing in her children, a joyous and ongoing reality.
Molly was a friend and thinking partner when I lived in the Bay Area during the 1990s and served for 25 years as the official California contact for my small nonprofit the Co-Intelligence Institute. I fondly remember our occasional but intense, intelligent conversations filled with laughter.
Molly was a dear friend in college. Smart, funny, imaginative, and curious. We reconnected through Facebook, discovered a shared love of children and grandchildren. We caught up on missing decades. I’ve been in treatment for cancer for a decade. Sadly, Molly wrote to tell me about her tumor. We talked by phone and message. I pray that I was a comfort to her. She remains a great comfort to me. with love and prayers for peace.
Molly was a great aunt. Molly and Charlie always took great care of my brother and I when we would stay at their house while my parents were on vacation. Molly gave good advice and was such an important person to my the entire Hamaker family. I’m so glad my mom and her became close and that they supported each other throughout life. Molly was empathetic, bright, and an amazing Aunt to have. We will all miss her. She is very loved and she raised amazing kids who are my really cool cousins! Much love from Carolyn, Thak, Jitender, Amari, Chris, and Kelly
To Charlie and all of Molly’s family, I send heartfelt condolences, and regret that I will not be able to attend the online event.
Though Molly and I had been out of touch for many years, I was witness and sometime accomplice to her energetic, creative nurturance of Parkmead Elementary School. She brought humor along with incredible skills in the service of making a dynamic learning environment for Irene, Zach, and other students. Her passion and enthusiasm were inspiring.
Molly was clever & quick-witted and talked a mile a minute (even when she was sick). She was always solving problems, making plans, creating spreadsheets, and bringing people together for the greater good. We met when I was in my 20s. Her younger kids were in high school and she was a gentle, mother-like presence in my life, guiding me with sage advice through dating and then marriage, finances, and parenthood. She gave me lots of advice over the years and it was always good advice. I always admired her tight knit family and the way the Hamakers worked together, as a team. Because of her, I am a better mom, a better cook, and a better human. She was there on my wedding day. She made it a point to get to know my kids, to visit with us when they were newborns. I will miss 29 Acorn Ct., taking walks with her, and sharing meals. Mostly I’ll miss talking to her on the telephone. I’ll miss the sound of her voice, and her steady gentle guidance in my life. Moo, you were a lovely friend and I love you.
Grace and a gift, to have Molly in my life. She shared herself so lovingly and effectively in her relationships and her work. Besides our personal friendship, our visits at St. Mary’s parties and, more recently on gentle walks, I’m especially grateful for Molly co-founded the Putnam Clubhouse, a life-changing and life-affirming place important to so many of us. Molly knew how to live well. We can all follow her example.