Beverly Jeanne Burnham Hamilton, age 91, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2025 at Melbourne Place in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Beverly was born in Marshalltown, Iowa on August 1, 1934, the only child of Harold F. Burnham and his wife Jeanne Mitchell Burnham. Her family lived in Oelwein, Iowa, until the beginning of World War II when Harold Burnham joined the US Navy and served in the Pacific Theater from 1943-45. At that time Beverly and her mother lived with her mother's parents in Marshalltown. Following the end of the war her family moved to Seattle, Washington, where she attended Trinity Lutheran School, then West Seattle High School and graduated from the University of Washington in 1956.
After university graduation Beverly worked as a teacher at the Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, Hawaii, from 1956-1961. There she met her husband to-be Richard P. Hamilton. They were married in Seattle July 15, 1961, and moved to Massachusetts, her husband's home state. Both were employed as teachers at Mt. Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown. After first living in Williamstown, they eventually settled in Hancock, MA. Their daughter Martha was born in 1965 and son Matthew was born in 1968. Mrs. Hamilton also taught part-time at the Hancock Central School for a brief time.
Beginning in 1977 Beverly worked at Hancock Shaker village in various capacities including being Assistant to the Director (1982-1986) and Acting Director in 1985. In 1987 she became the Assistant to the Director at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, continuing in that position until retirement in 1999. Other activities have centered on work with her congregation, Zion Lutheran, and have included being Sunday School Superintendent, chair of several committees and the first woman president of the congregation council.
She made the holidays especially memorable, hosting grand family dinners and decorating her home with warmth and beauty. Her grandchildren will forever cherish the time she spent with them - dying Easter eggs, decorating Christmas cookies, going "Back to School" shopping and playing cards together.
Beverly was predeceased by her husband, Richard P. Hamilton to whom she was married for 55 years. She is survived by her children Martha Prescott and Matthew Hamilton. In addition to her children, survivors also include her greatly-loved grandchildren, Erin and Olivia Hamilton, Anna and Benjamin Prescott, as well as equally loved daughter-in-law Elizabeth Howard Hamilton and son-in-law Mark Prescott.
Beverly's family gives sincere thanks to Hospice Care in the Berkshires and all the caregivers at Melbourne Place for their compassionate care her in her final days. Services will take place in the Spring.
After university graduation Beverly worked as a teacher at the Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, Hawaii, from 1956-1961. There she met her husband to-be Richard P. Hamilton. They were married in Seattle July 15, 1961, and moved to Massachusetts, her husband's home state. Both were employed as teachers at Mt. Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown. After first living in Williamstown, they eventually settled in Hancock, MA. Their daughter Martha was born in 1965 and son Matthew was born in 1968. Mrs. Hamilton also taught part-time at the Hancock Central School for a brief time.
Beginning in 1977 Beverly worked at Hancock Shaker village in various capacities including being Assistant to the Director (1982-1986) and Acting Director in 1985. In 1987 she became the Assistant to the Director at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, continuing in that position until retirement in 1999. Other activities have centered on work with her congregation, Zion Lutheran, and have included being Sunday School Superintendent, chair of several committees and the first woman president of the congregation council.
She made the holidays especially memorable, hosting grand family dinners and decorating her home with warmth and beauty. Her grandchildren will forever cherish the time she spent with them - dying Easter eggs, decorating Christmas cookies, going "Back to School" shopping and playing cards together.
Beverly was predeceased by her husband, Richard P. Hamilton to whom she was married for 55 years. She is survived by her children Martha Prescott and Matthew Hamilton. In addition to her children, survivors also include her greatly-loved grandchildren, Erin and Olivia Hamilton, Anna and Benjamin Prescott, as well as equally loved daughter-in-law Elizabeth Howard Hamilton and son-in-law Mark Prescott.
Beverly's family gives sincere thanks to Hospice Care in the Berkshires and all the caregivers at Melbourne Place for their compassionate care her in her final days. Services will take place in the Spring.
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