Richard H. Hamilton (Ret BFD), age 88 of West Bridgewater, formerly of Brockton, died peacefully February 15, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. Richard was the loving husband for 67 years of the late Beverly R. (Gasse) Hamilton. Born and raised in Brockton, he was the son of the late John and Viva (Thayer) Hamilton. Richard was a 1949 graduate of Brockton High School and an Army veteran of the Korean War. He had been a Brockton Firefighter for 32 years, a member of the firefighters union, Local IAFF 144, and retired in 1989. In 1973 the Brockton Jaycees presented Richard the Outstanding Firefighter Award for rescuing a trapped man in a fire at the Ardmore Hotel.
Richard was a doting father, grandfather, great grandfather and “Santa” who was devoted to his family and his career as a firefighter. He enjoyed fishing on his boat and watching New England sports.
Richard was the father of Debra August of West Bridgewater, Lynne Shom of Brockton and the late Richard J. Hamilton; father in law of Teresa Hamilton; grandfather of Nicholas Shom and his wife Erica, Amanda Zimmerman and her husband Peter, Jordan August and his wife Sarah and John Hamilton; great grandfather of Owen Shom and Jack and Benjamin August; brother of Robert Hamilton and the late John Hamilton, Lorraine Perewicz, Pauline Gould, Clyde Hamilton and Chester “Chet” Hamilton. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held in Pine Hill Cemetery, West Bridgewater at a time to be announced in May, 2019. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Richard’s name to the Brockton Firefighter’s Relief Association, PO Box 3341, Brockton, MA 02403-3341.