Rita Hammer

Rita Hammer
passed on October 29th 2025 after a short illness, in Danbury, Connecticut. Beloved wife, devoted mother, daughter, cousin, and friend, Rita was born in 1935 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and is pre-deceased by her loving parents, Philip and Clara Elice. A lifelong New Yorker, model, award-winning singer from the age of three, and recording artist who performed everywhere from The Galen Drake Show on network television to the Copacabana and the AIDS ward at St Vincent’s Hospital in New York, Rita was deeply devoted to her family, the arts, old movies, fashion, and animals. Predeceased by her beloved husband, Buddy Hammer, she leaves behind her adoring daughter Elissa Altman and devoted daughter-in-law Susan Turner, her many Fieber cousins, Marsha Meltzer, Constance Kenney, Loretta Goldstein, her granddog Fergus, her longtime neighbors Pat and Barbara Dote and everyone at 205, and Bob Tevis and her many friends at The Lambs Club. Her family offers profound thanks for the amazing care and support Rita received from Angel Care; Farah and Nirvena; at Regional Hospice, and especially from Lenore, Kathleen, Colleen, Linley, Dara, Rochelle, Zoe, and all of the volunteers; the team at Waterview Hills and her roommate Marilyn DeMasi; and Dr Katherine Keil and Rachel Schottenfeld. Donations in Rita’s memory may be made to Regional Hospice (https://regionalhospicect.org/), The Big Dog Rescue Project (https://bigdogrescueproject.org/donate/), and Gigi’s Animal Rescue (https://www.gigisanimalrescue.org/).
Information for the graveside funeral service is forthcoming, and a musical celebration of Rita’s life will be planned for Spring 2026.

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