Mike Hamlin

Mike was born on September 6, 1931, in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Mercersburg Academy in 1949 and began his college education at Gettysburg College. In 1951 Mike enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean War as a field radio operator in the 2d Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. After his enlistment he returned to Gettysburg College, graduating in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts. It was while attending Gettysburg College that Mike met the love of his life, Jean. They were married on May 24, 1959. Mike had a long career in retail management with Allied Stores. In 1977 he left Allied to open his own store in Cape Coral - Mike Hamlins Menswear. A very gregarious man, Mike could talk to anyone and seemed to know everyone. He had a prodigious memory and could easily recall the smallest, most inconsequential details and bits of trivia. He was well known for his irreverent sense of humor. Post retirement he began working as a guide at the Edison Home. This role was a perfect fit for him as he greatly enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and practicing his foreign language skills. Mike also volunteered at the Cape Coral Hospital. Mike had many passions in life, chief of which was running. He began running in 1976 while living in Akron, Ohio. After moving to Cape Coral, he became a founding member of the Ft. Myers Track Club in 1978. Mike ran in hundreds of races over the years, including multiple marathons, achieving his personal best marathon time of 3:35 in 1982 at age 50. Rescued greyhounds were another love. Mike and Jean adopted 5 former racing dogs, beginning with Blue, then Peach and Rudy, Luka and finally Sandy. He was an avid reader, had an eclectic taste in music and loved to travel, taking trips all over the world. Mike was a life-long member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and enjoyed meeting with his fraternity brothers as the years went by. Mike instilled his children with his own strong values and work ethic. He took great interest in their activities and those of their families. Their successes were his successes. Mike took up riding motorcycles at a late age to bond with his sons. He took pride in the military service of his daughter, son-in-law and grandson, as well as his granddaughter’s cheerleading triumphs. In 2025 he was thrilled with the birth of his first great grandchild. On April 12, 2025 Mike was selected to participate in Collier-Lee Honor Flight 28. This was one of the highpoints of his final years. Although he didn’t talk much about his time in the Corps, he was a very proud Marine. The opportunity to spend a day among other veterans, to be honored in such a way for his long-ago service, was incredibly meaningful to him.

Mike was survived by his beloved wife of nearly 68 years, Jean Louise (Hummer) Hamlin, daughter Lee Margaret Kenney (husband Kevin), son Michael Jay Hamlin (wife Tori), son James Neil Hamlin (wife Theresa), grandson Michael Jay Hamlin, II (wife Brittney), granddaughter Kylie Victoria Dilday (husband Bryce) and great granddaughter Mackenzie Jean Dilday. He will forever be in their hearts and missed very much.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Collier-Lee Honor Flight at Collierhonorflight.org.