August 16, 1928 – April 18, 2017. Born in New York City, formerly of Wayne, Pennsylvania and Newport, Rhode Island, Dorrance Hill Hamilton passed away peacefully in Boca Grande, Florida surrounded by her family.
She was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, Samuel M. V. Hamilton, and survived by her three children, Margaret H. Duprey, N. Peter Hamilton and S. Matthews V. Hamilton, Jr, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Hamilton was recognized for her philanthropic endeavors, as well as her restoration of gardens and houses. Some of her well-known philanthropic projects were The Blue Garden in Newport, Rhode Island, The Fernery at The Morris Arboretum, and The Philadelphia Flower Show. She founded the Newport Flower Show in 1996. Mrs. Hamilton served on many boards, including the Women’s Board at Jefferson Hospital, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, University of the Arts, SVF Foundation, The Hamilton Family Foundation, and The Newport Restoration Foundation, and was the first woman on the Board of Jefferson Hospital.
She will be laid to rest at a private graveside service in Newport. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 11th at 11:00am at 218 Strafford Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, c/o The Dorrance Hill Hamilton Fund, to Advance Nursing Excellence, 125 S. 9th Street, Suite 600, Philadelphia, PA 19107 or The Newport Hospital Foundation, c/o The Dorrance Hill Hamilton Fund, to Advance Nursing Excellence, 11 Friendship Street, Newport, RI 02840 or The Redwood Library, 50 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840.
