Andrew Frank Hatch's Obituary
ANDREW FRANK HATCH was born October 7, 1898. It is believed he was born in Rapides Parish Louisiana, to Henry Hatch and Zilphia (McCoy) Hatch. After 117 years, Andrew Frank Hatch outlived: three centuries, several wars, U.S. presidents, political milestones, earthquakes, momentous social movements and leaps of technology from the gaslight to LED. Hatch transitioned peacefully on January 18, 2016, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, in the home of his daughter Delane Sims who he adored and to whom he attributed his longevity.
At the time of his passing, Hatch was likely the oldest man in the country, if not the world! While he did not care much about the recognition, he received accolades and several proclamations ranging from city and local officials, to the President of the United States, Barack Obama. Just last summer, he was featured in GQ Magazine with several other super-centenarians, a super exclusive club of those who have reached 110 years of age and beyond. Andrew Frank Hatch was indeed super! He was fiercely independent, even at 110…112…115, and he continued to be healthy except for hearing loss and some memory lapse. In 2014, he was still living on his own in a downtown Oakland senior residence facility, The San Pablo, often going as he said, “to town”. That usually meant to Walgreens for Juicy Fruit gum, or cruising the sidewalks on his cherry-red motorized scooter fitted with rearview mirrors and his sunglasses.
About two years ago after a fall, he finally conceded to moving in with his daughter and son-in-law. In the spring of 2015, he had a leg amputated and became mostly bed ridden. But, in his last days, age had no bearing on his emotions and love for others. He always showed his broad smile when family and friends would enter his room; he was still talking and interacting with everyone right up until the last week of his life. His family felt especially blessed to have been given the opportunity of living together under one roof for the last two years; they took it as a gift from God, and truly cherish the memories made.
Though born in Louisiana, Hatch’s family moved to Houston, Texas, when he was a child. As a young man, he established the trade of a blacksmith and traveled the world as a merchant marine to many continents: Africa, Europe, and Canada were he had many life changing adventures. One such adventure happened while he was in his early 20’s; he was jailed in Irving, Texas, for “reckless eyeballing!” He stated using his locksmith skills to escape and hopped on a boxcar headed for Mexico, where he stayed for several years and taught himself Spanish. In 1933, he moved to Oakland, where he worked as a blacksmith, an auto mechanic and a taxi driver. In 1971 at the age of 72, he survived an apartment fire in West Oakland. Though he lost a couple of fingers while hanging from a burning ledge, he would chuckle and say, “But they rebuilt me!” His common response when saying good-bye to family was often, “Look out for the big red street car!” With an opinion as strong as his grip, and despite the missing digits (fingers), Hatch was always on top of current events and politics.
Though he saw so much history during his lifetime—the civil rights movement and events, his life transcended the pain of those experiences and he lived his life freely and without prejudice for others. Hatch credited the “Big Man upstairs,” plus the steady love of his daughter who came along late in his life, for his longevity. But his main saying was, “Live on your own terms, and don’t take no wooden nickels.” He was always concerned about everyone’s well-being—now he’s in a divine place where he can look out for us all! In addition to his dutiful daughter, Delane Sims, Mr. Hatch is survived by his son-in-law Jerry Sims, his brother Salahudin Tulah; stepson’s, Jerome Harris and Gregory Harris; grandchildren, Antoine Montgomery and wife Christine, Jamal Hall-Wolford, Philip Cole, Sherrita Cole, Rasheed Sims, Kareem Sims, Travis Sims; great-great grandchildren, Nathaniel Montgomery, Armani Hall, Jerimiah Sims, Sterling Sims, Samara Cole-Mercado, and Michael Montgomery. “Grand-dad’s” notable family members, Rue Mapp, Benita Lavine, Rennie Davis, Victoria Mapp, Asia Mapp, Seth Kreber-Mapp, Arwen Kreber-Mapp, William Kreber-Mapp, Tiffany Rose, Viola Wolford, Abigale Woldford, Asia Mae Wolford, Azaria Wolford, Salahudin Sims Jr., Tina Harris, Tyeesha Harris, and Myeesha Harris.
Celebration of Life will be held at 4 pm, Saturday, January 30, 2016 at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, California 94611.
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