April 24, 1955 – November 20, 2023
Sam Hamilton passed quietly, surrounded by family, at his home in Jacksonville, Oregon on November 20, 2023. Sam was a dedicated husband, a technology wizard, a movie aficionado, and a loyal and generous friend to too many people to count.
Sam was born on April 24, 1955, in Misawa, Japan. He was the oldest of three boys born to Fumiko and Ralph Hamilton. The family soon after moved to Rantoul, IL, where Sam attended local schools, graduating from Rantoul High School.
Sam subsequently moved to the Rogue Valley, where he became a Jacksonville-area institution over the next four decades of his life. For much of his professional career, Sam was a financial and information technology advisor in the shipping industry.
Sam had many passions. Throughout his lifetime, he was fisherman, a barbecuer of all things, and a musician (briefly), just to name a few. He loved sports, and felt deeply the triumphs and travails of his favorite teams, including: the Oregon Ducks, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Dodgers. Sam was an animal lover, doting on his dogs – Tipper, Sallee, and Duchess – and even his exceptionally aloof cat, Shadow. And there are few who can rival Sam’s admiration for Mercedes Benz automobiles.
Sam’s fascination with technology and gadgets was boundless. He purchased and studied the particulars of dozens of different computers, smart phones, software programs, televisions, and remote controls. Sam also was a one-man “help desk” for friends and family throughout the country.
Sam’s list of admirable attributes is long, but perhaps the greatest of them was his deep loyalty and generosity to his family and friends. Sam cared deeply about the health and well-being of everyone in his life – from his closest relations to the stranger he just met at the Bella Union. He gave freely of his time, his talent, and his heart to improve the lives of others, and never asked for anything in return.
The world would be an infinitely better place if there were more Sam Hamiltons in it, and it has suffered a tremendous loss with his passing.
Sam was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who is survived by his wife Susan, his son Devin Hamilton (Tessa), his two brothers Andrew Hamilton (Theresa) and Toby Hamilton (Paula), and stepchildren Scott Patterson and Analea Patterson (Nathan). Sam was the proud grandfather of Harper, Everett, and Chloe.
A memorial service will be held for Sam at 2:00 pm on Friday, December 8 at Memory Gardens Memorial Park & Mortuary at 1395 Arnold Lane, Medford, OR 97501. A celebration of life will follow, beginning at 3:15 pm at the Magnolia Hotel, 245 N. 5th Street, Jacksonville, OR 97530.
In lieu of flowers, the family urges those who are so inclined to make a donation to Jackson County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children at this link: https://app.sharefaith.com/app/giving/halopays-1623.