He was born at Elliot Community Hospital in Keene, on July 10, 1945, the son of Fred H and Sophie A (Krupa) Hamblet.
He grew up in Keene, attending Keene schools and beginning at Keene High School, Class of 1963.He transferred to Tilton School, Tilton, N. H., and graduated in 1965.
After Tilton he attended Hartwick College and later Mowhawk Valley Community College, both in New York State. Following college, he worked for Payne Construction and then for McMillan Construction before going back to F.H. Hamblet , Inc. an electrical contracting company in Keene , where he had worked for his father throughout high school. He spent 43 plus years at the family business assuming control of the company in 1978.On July 1. 1986 he purchased the company and began serving as its President, eventually also becoming its CEO. The company is now run by his son, Christopher.
He was as dedicated to the community as he was to his work. He was a founding member of the Elm City Rotary Club, was past chair of the City of Keene Planning Board and member of the Zoning Board of Appeals; on the board of the Home Healthcare, Hospice, and Community Services Board; a member of the local ELKS Lodge # 927, and was involved heavily over the years with the local Monadnock United Way once serving as Chair of the General Campaign. He was a former member of the Spofford Yacht Club, a member of the Board of Directors for the Tilton School for 32 years, on the Board of Directors for Peoples Bank, formerly Granite Bank. He was a Lifetime member of the 100 Club of NH, a member of the NRA, and was on the State of NH Apprenticeship Advisory Council for 22 years. He received a commendation from Gov. John Lynch for “exceptional service” to the advisory council. He held many positions on various trade associations within his industry.
His 32 years of service as a board member at Tilton School demonstrated not only his abiding love and dedication to the school and its mission but also to his desire to repay the school for changing the direction of his life and teaching him responsibility to others. During his tenure he donated a classroom and the reception area in the school’s learning center.
His proudest moment on the board was chairing the Building Committee in 2004-2005 in a project which resulted in construction of a new dormitory, an addition to the major classroom building, and renovation of a building.
He was named The Tilton School Alumnus of the Year at his 20th class reunion.
At Tilton his leadership skills and athletic abilities emerged. He was co-captain of a basketball team that won the Lakes Region Championship in 1965. In the same year he won the high jump in the New England Prep School Championships
In his free time he could be found playing golf at the Keene Country Club where he served as president, boating or fishing in the summer, hunting or downhill skiing in the winter. He was a skilled handyman. For several years he traveled to Texas where he rode and competed in cutting horse events, a Western equine discipline. In his first horseshow he was crowned “The Waco Heart of Texas 500 Amateur Champion.”
Despite all these activities, work was his number one hobby.
He is survived by his children: Christopher C. Hamblet of Keene and his daughter Caitlin C. Whitehead and her husband Jay of Framingham, MA., and their child his new, one month-old granddaughter, Ava E. Whitehead; his loving partner and companion, Ann Monsell of Surry; a brother: Christopher B Hamblet and his wife Ruth of Altimonte Springs Fl.; a sister: Gail A Hamblet of Keene, ; his former wife of more than 30 years, Jeanna; a niece: Lisa Stevens and her husband Jeff and their daughter Lucy of Keene and nephew Mark Rispler of Wisconsin. He is also survived by his loving dog Mischa (Memoo).
Services will be Thursday morning at 11:00 at the United Church of Christ in Keene. Calling hours will be held Wednesday from 5:00 until 8:00 at the Fletcher Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made, in Flip Hamblet’s name, to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org), 1701 North Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311 or to the Tilton School (www.tiltonschool.org), c/o The Scholarship Fund, 30 School St., Tilton, NH 03276
Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services (www.fletcherfuneralhome.com), 33 Marlboro St., Keene has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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