Obituary Overview
In Loving Memory
HAMILTON, David Arthur
April 10, 1946-September 30, 2018
David passed away at home September 30, 2018 with his wife and daughter at his side. True Companion and loving Husband for 50 years and 30 days to Joy (Bailey); always most proud and devoted Father to Jessica. Father-in-law and friend to Doug Sartori. Cherished Grampa to Katherine Joy; Grandpuss to Amanda and Great Grandpuss to Lucy. Son of Louis and Margaret (predeceased). Brother to Johanna (predeceased). Brother-in-law to Tom, Connie, Beth, Shelley, Jane and Chris. Uncle to many nieces and nephews.
True friend to Paul, Carl, Dennis and Marvin.
Caregiver to rescued Pookie, Melrose, and Luigi.
Everyone who knew David knows about his love for planes, trains, and automobiles. David was a Second class stationary engineer at General Chemical, Hiram Walker, and the University of Windsor.
Owning several motorcycles, fast cars, power and sailboats, building three telescopes, and obtaining his pilot’s licence in aviation, David was a going concern.. David also loved scuba diving, astronomy, and photography,outfitting his own darkroom,& showing his photos at Gibson Gallery.
A meticulous self-taught woodworker, he spent hours in the « shop » in the garage, able to fix anything that needed fixing, which led granddaughter, Kat, to proclaim, « Give it to Grampa. Grampa can fix anything! »
He taught himself calculus, loved ZZ Top and Fat Boys, Harley Davidson motorcycles, and model trains.
David crewed on the Schooner Nathanial Bowditch and painstakingly built dozens of model boats from scratch.
A lifelong learner and volunteer, David loved helping people and meant so much to so many. He was an instructor for the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron (CPS) which led to self-taught (N) Navigation.
David captured 1st place in the 1987 WSSC solo. David captained Juergen Hendel’s beloved Rakaia and placed 1st, winning the 1994 Grampa PHRF Regatta. David received a Steering Testimonial as a competent wheelsman in 1999.
He was a devoted volunteer for Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS), Marsh Collection Society, Canadian Historical Aircraft Association (CH2A), Elder College, and a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). He was a regular contributor to the Marsh Collection’s ‘Reflections’ and edited dozens of volumes of ‘Echo Soundings’ (marine news excerpts from the Amherstburg Echo).
During the time David spent with CH2A, he had the distinct privilege of building the navigator’s desk for Windsor’s Lancaster bomber, salvaging as much from the original desk as possible; David dedicated this desk to his cousin, William Harry Hamilton, who flew a Lancaster over Germany during World War II. William did not make it home.
Most of all, David loved his family, spending hours on the road to Batchawana Bay where he first learned his love for sailing; a freezing trip to Winnipeg tor observe a total solar eclipse; travelling to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon, visiting Mount Rushmore and Devil’s Tower, riding the Silver Streak to Colorado, sailing to Cedar Point for a terrifying ride on the Demon Drop, the infamous elk story in Algonquin, saving the family from certain death while backing the ‘gut-less Cutlass’ down Blue Mountain, beer tasting at Walkerville Brewery Tours and G.L. Heritage Brewery.
He enjoyed playing chess and games, especially playing the dreaded +4 UNO card when he shouldn’t, LAN parties, Dungeons & Dragons, watching old B-rated science fiction films, camping and collecting pond samples at Holiday Beach, walking the Boardwalk at Point Pelee and the trails at Ojibway.
He loved us and we loved him. He was truly one-of-a-kind and we are blessed to have had him in our lives.
Cremation has taken place. If you desire, donations may be made to Canadian Historical Aircraft Association (CH2A) or the Humane Society.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de David A Hamilton 2018.
Décès pour la Ville: Amherstburg, Province: Ontario
