Alan C. "Papa Al" Hamilton

Alan Charles Hamilton, known affectionately as "Papa Al," beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and uncle passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Berlin, New Hampshire at the age of 90 with family at his bedside. He spent his life touching the hearts and minds of those around him with his kind demeanor, warm smile, and considerable intellect.

Born on May 2, 1934 in Gardiner, Maine, he was the first son of Walter B. and Anella (Bucknam) Hamilton. Soon joined in childhood by his brother Bruce B. Hamilton two years later, the two ‘boys’ spent their childhood in Hallowell, ME doing all things boys enjoy. They particularly enjoyed their time on Cobbosseecontee Lake fishing, swimming, and boating at the family cottage built by their grandfather in West Gardiner, ME.

Alan received degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maine at Orono graduating with both a BS and MS degree. He entered the US Army for a short time before returning to civilian life per US Government requirements as the Cold War entered its early phases.

Alan married Frances Marion “Chummy” Hanson of Newport, ME whom he had met at UMaine shortly after college graduation in August of 1956. Over the next several years they had two sons and one daughter - achieving their dream of having a family with which to share many adventures and memories.

His professional career was exemplary. Alan worked for DuPont Corporation for a short time in Buffalo, NY before returning to Maine to work for Oxford Paper Company in Rumford, ME where their first son was born. A short stint working for Ethyl Corp. in New Jersey followed prior to returning to Rumford with ‘The Oxford”. Relocating to Dixfield, ME in the early 1960’s, the couple completed their family. Alan spent several decades working as an engineer, technical manager, and operations manager at the Rumford Mill specializing in coated paper production and product development making paper for magazines such as National Geographic, Time, Life, and other well know publications. He was very active in professional organizations, leading committees and peer groups in many. In 1987 the couple relocated their home to Twitchell Pond in Greenwood, ME while he worked at International Paper Company before retiring in the early 1990’s. 

Alan was active in the communities in which he lived, having been a school board member in Dixfield and a member of the town planning board in Locke Mills for several years.

In his personal life there is not much he did not do or at least try once. Alan was an active outdoorsman. Skiing, hunting, sailing, hiking and jogging, are only a few of the activities he and his family participated in. He was a long-time member of the National Ski Patrol, serving several leadership positions in the Northeast while at his home mountain of Mt. Abram in Locke Mills. He hiked most of the Appalachian Trail in Maine summiting all 4000+ foot peaks. He owned many power and sailboats, sometimes exceeding more than ten, and built at least four power or sailboats in his lifetime. He loved lake life.

Alan was an avid musician collecting and playing banjos in several bands over the years. Early bands included ‘The Stragglers’ based in Rumford Maine and, most recently, “The Yet to Be Named Banjo Band” out of Locke Mills playing nursing homes and events in Western Maine. He gave guitar lessons to every youngster in Dixfield and Rumford who had seen the Beatles on TV for $2.00 per 30-minute lesson on Monday and Tuesday evenings throughout the 1960’s. His many other hobbies included astronomy (he built his own eight-foot telescope at 16), modelling (boats and airplanes), fly-tying, photography (he built his own photo developing ‘dark’ room), and almost any other hobby or activity one could think of.

Alan is survived by his children and their partners, Jeffrey A. Hamilton and wife Diane V Hamilton of Rockport, ME, Gregory C. Hamilton and partner Jennifer Gran of Carthage, ME, and Kimberly A. Hamilton and husband Brian Supry of Milan, NH. Grandchildren Staci H. Hamilton of Farmingdale, ME, Alisa J. Hamilton and her partner Josh Wheeling of Baltimore, MD, Jason Hamilton and wife Antoinette Rappo of Basil, Switzerland. Step-Grandchildren Samantha Wilson and husband Nick Wilson of Carmel, ME, Heather Albert and husband Dana Albert of Hermon, ME, and Hope Supry of Berlin, NH. Great Grandchildren Lars Hamilton and Thijs Hamilton of Basel, Switzerland, Step Great Grandchildren Quincie Wilson and Cooper Wilson of Carmel, ME, and Ryan Albert and Nora Rose Albert of Hermon, ME. Always close family members, his brother Bruce B. Hamilton and sister-in-law Jean O’Neal Hamilton, Sister-in-law Arlene Olzak Hanson (pre-deceased by Alan’s very close brother-in law, Arthur L. Hanson), his many nieces and nephews: Stephen Hamilton and family, Amy Hamilton Richards and family, Christine Hanson and family, David Hanson and family, and nephew Carl Hanson.

Lastly, and a cause of much sadness in Alan’s later years, he was pre-deceased by his wife of nearly 60 years, Frances “Chummy” Hamilton who passed of stage 4 Leukemia in March of 2015. The two of them had done it all together.

Alan was much loved by his many caretakers in New Hampshire, both at the home of his daughter, Kimberly, and at St’ Vincent’s de Paul Nursing Home. Their love and attention allowed him to enjoy life to his fullest capacity and reach his 90th birthday which many came together to celebrate in May of this year. The family cannot express the amount of love and affection we have for these many individuals.

A Celebration of Life event honoring ‘Papa Al’ will be held on Saturday, September 14th, 2024 from Noon to 6:00 PM at 349 West Milan Rd, West Milan, NH. Friends, family, and those whose lives were touched by Alan are welcome to join in celebrating his remarkable journey through life. He lived it well. Arrangements are entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Berlin, NH. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.bryantfuneralhome.net