I met John Hamilton in September, 1970 when I was reporting for active duty in the Army for the Signal Officer Basic Course at FT Gordon, GA.  When I walked into the orderly room, John was working the desk and he was the first person to greet me.  Little did I know at the time that we would remain friends for the next 50+ years.  Several months later after completing the course, John, along with two other lieutenants and I rented a townhouse apartment in Augusta, GA just behind Augusta National where the Masters is played.  After our active duty, John and I made a road trip from Georgia to New Mexico and then drove to Acapulco followed by an extensive tour of the national parks out west and then a journey across Canada.  That summer we logged over 12,000 miles.  We stayed in touch and I had last spoke to John this past fall.  John will always be remembered for his quick wit and his care for others.  I will truly miss him.

It is with great sadness to learn about John’s passing. He was a  classmate and an exceptional neighbor to Trellis Jaeger during his Hillside Road days, which our family truly appreciated.

We will always remember John’s moving eulogy for his beloved Morine. How he could accomplish that was beyond words. Love to all his family at this sad time. Our prayers and our hearts are with you all.

Dear Family of Professor Emeritus John Hamilton, 

On behalf of the Suffolk County Community College Eastern Campus Congress, we would like to extend our deep and heartfelt sympathy to you during this time of grieving. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. 

Best regards, 

Suffolk County Community College
Eastern Campus Congress 
Sunshine Fund

I started at Suffolk Community College in the Fall of 1976 and met John Hamilton shortly thereafter.  He impressed me from the start.  He was such a positive and welcoming person.  John was very bright and witty, with a great sense of humor.  In addition, his military background made him the perfect candidate for the Head of the Academic Assembly on the Western (Grant) Campus.

In the Academic Assembly, John served as a referee between the spirited members of this young campus.  I had never witnessed such a talented faculty before, and they debated everything from the curriculum to the weather.  Many of these new faculty members had attended college during the protest years, and John was our Ringmaster who kept us on track during our lengthy meetings.

Whenever you met John on the campus, he was always smiling and eager to share humorous stories and anecdotes with you.  Many times I was late for class because I became so engrossed in our conversations.  His students loved him and he kept in touch with many of them. He personified the qualities of a great professor and storyteller.

After he retired, John contacted me with some tax questions.  From that point on, we spoke on a weekly basis.  I knew the challenges he had faced, yet he never complained and was always positive and dedicated to his two sons.

John had a positive impact on my life, and the entire College Community.  He will never be forgotten and his spirit will always live on.

Bob Weinstein

Back in my days as Director of the Business Division at Southampton College in the early 1980s, John taught Managerial Economics for us and always did a great job. He was highly respected by both his faculty colleagues and the students.  He brought enthusiasm, humor, wisdom, and rigor to his classes.

We often shared cocktails at the family beach cottage at West Meadow and I remember how happy he was when he introduced me to his late wife Morine when they both visited my home in Stony Brook.

His passing reminds us all that life is short, friendship is a gift, and the relationships we develop over the years both define and enrich us.  

John left a rich legacy both among his students at Suffolk County Community College and Southampton College, and the Stony Brook community as well.

Daniel B. Kerr, CPA, Ph.D.
Former Director of Business Divion, Southampton College



Dear John,
John, I know you are chuckling at me writing you a "DearJohn" letter... We have been friends for over 25 years.. The timing of our friendship was impeccable. You needed to get healthy and I needed advice and guidance. Your financial advice helped me while I struggled through my divorce and you were instrumental in helping launch my career at Suffolk Community College 20 years ago.
You became family to me,my children and my wife Debbi. I will hold close to my heart the many memories we've shared over the years. The gym, the beach house, recipes, St. Georges and our daily 
conversations. You were quite the story teller and always made me laugh with your dry sense of humor. Your intelligence was admirable, your worldly knowledge was vast.  Truly a teacher....   You were always kind and caring to those around you. I mused at how you would speak about Morine, your soulmate.
Your love for her was pure and endless. I know part of you died when she passed. I am so happy for you because you are finally back in her embrace, where you have only wanted to be since she left. I will miss you Mr. Hamilton. Now, you can finally Rest In Peace.

Love you- Maryann Nocera
 

It’s hard for me to convey what exactly Mr. Hamilton meant to me. I learned so much from him, and so many things that I’ve come to understand about life involve Mr. Hamilton. Whether it be long conversations in his living room, on the phone, or at breakfast on a Saturday morning, Mr. Hamilton was always there to impart wisdom, usually in the form of a great story. From interactions between him and my father, I saw what selfless care for another human being looked like, and endless gratitude in kind. Mr. Hamilton, you may be gone now, but rest assured knowing that your imprint on me will live on forever.

OBITUARY

John A. Hamilton

11 June, 1947 – 20 January, 2023

O.B. Davis Funeral Homes

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