Andrew Donald Hamilton

Mr. Andrew Donald Hamilton of Clarksburg died Saturday, February 27, 2016 after a long illness which he endured courageously.  He was the devoted husband of Mary Jane Hamilton for 41 years.  He was born January 6, 1936 in Hempstead, L.I., N.Y. and was the son of Harold D. Hamilton and Ethel Donnelly Hamilton. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his beloved daughter Victoria Hamilton Waechter, cherished grandson Easton Andrew Hamilton, and numerous cousins.

Mr. Hamilton grew up in Mount Vernon, New York.  After High School he attended the RCA Institutes and then enlisted in the U.S. Army serving for three years active duty and eight years in the reserves.  He graduated from New York University with a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering. While at NYU, he received the Founders Day Award and joined the Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu Fraternities. He then began a career with various aerospace companies on Long Island.  Seeking a change of pace he later enrolled as a student at Stony Brook University and earned a Masters Degree in Marine Environmental Sciences.  At Stony Brook he calibrated, created, and maintained the scientific equipment used on the RV Onrust and assisted on many scientific oceanographic cruises including the Gulf of Mexico and the coasts of Chile and Wales.  In 1988 Mr. Hamilton re-located to Frederick, Maryland and was employed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg in the Synchrotron Ultra-Violet Radiation Facility from which he retired.

He was a charter member of the Huntington Community First Aid Squad, a member of the Power Squadron teaching celestial navigation, a voracious reader (especially of mysteries and history) and an enthusiastic gardener.  He enjoyed crossword puzzles and family travels, especially to the British Isles.  His favorite use of time, though, after retirement was volunteering at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine as a docent and researcher. He never did anything by halves but was totally dedicated and thorough in all endeavors. His keen intelligence and charming wit will be deeply missed.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00PM, on Sunday, March 6, 2016, at the Keeney & Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Father Michael Jendrek will officiate. Inurnment will be at Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Blvd., Calverton, NY 11933 at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, P.O. Box 470, Frederick, MD 21705 or a charity of one's choice.

Online condolences may be shared at www.keeneybasford.com