Robert "Bob" Hamilton peacefully passed away January 13, 2017, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Mass., after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in Newark, New Jersey to Marian and Eric Hamilton, and was married to the love of his life, Gloria "Bunny" Hamilton for 56 years before she also succumbed to a cancer related illness in 2014.
Immediately after their wedding in 1958, Bob left the United States to serve in the army in the Korean War. He was extremely proud of his veteran status and loved to tell stories of his time playing the saxophone in a band with his comrades during their weekend passes of freedom. Bob's saxophone playing was an innate gift and he thoroughly enjoyed being a part of many bands in his early years at home and abroad, which gave him the nickname of "Saxxy Bob" within the musical communities he played in.
While serving in the military, Bob's wife gave birth to their first daughter, Wendi Lynn Nadalin, who now resides in Shrewsbury, Mass and 4 years later to his second daughter, Cherylee Wood who now resides in Freeport, Bahamas. Bob's 2 girls were a huge part of his life and when he was not working he spent every waking moment with them. In 1969 Bob's successful career as a furniture sales representative led the family to a new home and they relocated to Massachusetts.
From 1969 to his retirement 40 years later he held various sales positions and engaged in several entrepreneurial initiatives. Whatever the economic climate, Bob always found a way to successfully support his family. His intelligence, work ethic and determination led him to different opportunities that contributed to providing a stable environment for his wife and children.
Over the years Bob and his wife spent a lot of time in their second home in Jensen Beach, Florida. Bob loved to fish from the beach and he would fish all day while his wife would peacefully watch from her nearby beach chair with friends. While cleaning fish at the end of the day, Bob would always feed the grey pelicans that seemed to find him the minute he started packing up his gear. He was known by hundreds of local residents and tourists as "the man who could make the pelicans dance", as he fed them scraps while filleting his daily catch at the outdoor cleaning station.
Fishing was Bob's favorite activity in Florida, but while he was home up north, gardening was his ultimate pass time. He spent countless hours in his garden in the warm summer months, growing every kind of flower and vegetable imaginable. Bob taught his daughters, his granddaughter and more recently his great granddaughter the secrets of growing from seeds and the miracles that nature carries out every day. Through this ongoing tutelage, Bob's love of the natural world was passed down to multiple generations and today his 2 daughters are avid environmentalists who contribute countless time in helping to preserve and protect the environment.
Bob's lifelong love for jazz music was evident at the family home where there was always something playing on the turntable from Louis Armstrong and Boots Randolph to Diana Krall and Rod Stewart. Music seemed to literally be a part of Bob, and he loved to sing and dance along while playing his favorite songs. After his wife passed, Bob spent time making new friends at the local senior center, the Elks Club in Florida and at different social gatherings. He spent time having quiet dinners at the the home of his eldest daughter and winter trips to The Bahamas with his youngest. He also filled his role as great grandpa "GG Pa" to his great grandchild, Ariadne Morrigan Purchase who was born in 2013 to his only grandchild Danielle Nicole and her husband Douglas Purchase.
In addition to those already mentioned, Bob leaves his sister Linda Lemos, several loving nieces and nephews, and his son in law Robert Nadalin.
Bob led a very fulfilling life and he was healthy and active until a few days before he passed. He was at peace in his last moments with his daughter Wendi by his side knowing that he would soon join his lovely wife. Bob's immediate family chose to honor his wishes by having a private celebration of his life rather than a public memorial service to acknowledge his passing. Both Bob and his wife Bunny succumbed to cancer related illnesses. The family has requested any donations in his memory be directed to www.cancer.org.
For additional photos you can also view www.tributes.com/robert hamilton