Bernard Hamilton

OXFORD / TANNERSVILLE, NY - Bernard Benjamin Hamilton, "Ben", 50, died suddenly on Thursday, September 19, 2013, of injuries sustained after a car-pedestrian accident on Main Street in Tannersville. Ben was born in Webster to John B. and Margaret (Wells) Hamilton. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1980 and entered the U.S. Army, serving with the 81st Airborne Division. Following his military service, he moved to Gilboa, NY, where he made his home in "his" mountains in 1987. He was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hiking, swimming, skiing, disc golfing, and skateboarding. He also loved to read. His greatest accomplishments were his children. He loved being a father and grandfather. He was a member of the Prattsville Hose Company and Rescue Squad for over 20 years, where he lived on Main Street in Prattsville until the devastating loss of his home and business to Hurricane Irene in 2011. Ben was known as "Benny the Blade" in reference to his lawn mowing business. Ben is survived by his parents, Jack Hamilton and his wife Maryann of Oxford; and Peggy Adams and her husband Paul of Ellenton, FL; three sisters, April LeConti and her husband Toni, Penny Blake and her husband Dale, and Jonna Dube and her husband Rich; four children, Megan Pelizza and her husband Tony, John Taylor and his girlfriend Lexi, Kristen Hamilton, and Erin Hamilton; mother of his children, Lisa; his in-laws, Betty Holdridge, David Holdridge, Eric and Deb Goettsche, Randy and Elaine Sutton, and Bonnie and Peter Diamond; grandchildren to "Papa", Paige Madison Rinaldi and Anthony John Pelizza. He was blessed with a large family and extended family of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends who will miss his free spirit and infectious love of living. He was predeceased by all of his grandparents, Bernard and Myrtle Hamilton, and Edwin and Winnie Wells; his father-in-law Franklyn Holdridge; and his sister-in-law, Lori Holdridge. Calling hours are Sunday, September 22, 2013 at Aston-Basagic Funeral Home, Main St., Hunter, NY, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. There will be a funeral service on Monday at 11 a.m. in New York. Memorial calling hours will be held in his hometown of Oxford on Thursday, September 26, 2013, from 4-7 p.m. at Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oxford Eccumenical Food Shelf, 4 Maple Road, Oxford, MA 01540.