Dr. Robert Hamet 1939-2020
Dr. Robert Philip Hamet, longtime Comstock Superintendent and educational icon in Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, March 11.
Dr. Hamet was extremely well respected and is remembered for his vision, passion, kind heart, and collaborative leadership style. He served successfully for 25 years as the leader of the Colts, from 1976 until his retirement in 2001.
Bob was originally from Bryan, Ohio and graduated from Western Michigan University in 1962. He went on to earn his Masters in 1964, and his Doctorate in 1974. In 2001, he was presented with WMU's Golden Apple Award which is given to honor outstanding individuals who graduated from the College of Education and Human Development at Western Michigan University.
An extremely good baseball player, he joined Little League at the age of 12, and played for Bryan High School in Bryan, Ohio. He earned a scholarship to play baseball at WMU, and went on to play from 1961 to 1963 in the Chicago White Sox farm system.
Hamet juggled his baseball career with substitute teaching in Bryan, OH; Athens, MI and Kalamazoo. In the mid 1960s he worked with a new program in the area called Youth Opportunities Unlimited where he served as the coordinator of the Work Education Program.
After several years at KVISD (now known as KRESA), Dr. Hamet became the Assistant Superintendent of the Comstock Public Schools. In July, 1976, as America celebrated the Bicentennial, Dr. Hamet became the Superintendent of our district.
Under his leadership, the Comstock Foundation was established, the county-wide Excellence in Education program was established, and an important $12.5 million bond issue was passed, and another bond was passed to allow for the construction of the Comstock Community Auditorium.
Hamet’s knowledge and experience was put to use throughout the state of Michigan even after his retirement, as he kept busy serving as a consultant to school districts in search of new superintendents.
Bob was an enthusiastic supporter of Comstock Schools. His face was common fixture at Colts athletic events, and his children were students in the district as well.
We will remember his ever-present smile, and his fantastic sense of humor. Our hearts go out to his wife, Carol, and their children Amy, Molly, Peter, Ryan, and their families. Thank you for sharing Dr. Hamet with all of us in the Comstock community.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the family will hold a private ceremony with a public memorial planned for a future date. More information about that memorial will be released by the family when more is known.
UPDATE: At their August 10 meeting, the Comstock Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to name the Comstock High School Athletic Stadium in Dr. Hamet's honor.