Joseph G. Hamm

Joseph G. Hamm was born on April 25, 1938 and grew up on the North Side of Pittsburgh. He attended North Catholic High School, and earned a degree in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Joe moved to Indianapolis Indiana where he created a commercial interior design company focusing primarily on the design of banks and offices. Joe was always interested in gardening and learned from his grandfather and uncle. While living in Indianapolis, he became especially interested in growing daffodils because deer on his recreational reservoir property wouldn’t eat them. He became a member of the Indiana Daffodil Society where he met his mentor, Helen Link who hybridized daffodils. After discovering that there are at least 30,000 varieties of daffodils, he decided that he would focus on collecting Historic Daffodils which are daffodils registered prior to 1939 and began by planting daffodils from his birth year, 1938. He did collect Classic and Modern varieties as well, but was passionate about perpetuating the legacy of Historic bulbs. He was a member of the Indiana Daffodil Society for 30 years and served as the President for serval years. He was also active in the American Daffodil Society and helped to originate the Historic Committee. When he retired and moved back to Western Pennsylvania, he bought property and converted an 1850 barn to his home in Washington, PA and transferred his entire daffodil collection from Indianapolis. At its peak, his Washington garden had over 2000 varieties of daffodils and it was recognized as an American Daffodil Society Display garden, the second in the State of Pennsylvania. Joe’s barn became a family center where he hosted holiday family gatherings and started a tradition of “Bread Baking with Mom” where all gathered to help in making Grandma’s traditional Christmas Croation nut and poppy seed breads. Although Joe faced many physical challenges resulting from a double amputation 16 years ago, he managed to live independently with the help and support of dear friends and family. Joe enjoying cooking, baking and growing plants while spoiling his pet cats. He guided and directed the management of his daffodil garden. Joe’s determination and persistence inspired all. Joe passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at the age of 88. As Joe often said, he was “historic like his daffodils”. Joe was the oldest of the seven children of Joseph and Catheryn Hamm. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his brother John Hamm (Terri Gould). He is survived by his sister, Georgine Materniak (Tom), Raymond Hamm (Sue), Fred Hamm (Dawn), Mark Hamm (Debbie) and Richard Hamm as well as by nieces and nephews Gretchen, Damon, Megan, Nate, Matthew, Brandon and Jared. There will be no visitation but a Celebration of Life will be held at some later date. 

Donations can be made in memory of Joe to the American Daffodil Society at 

https://stores.daffodilusastore.org/donations/.
 

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