HAMILTON, Nan Of Somerville, MA died November 15, 2021, age 75. Sister of Clayton and Gordon (Dito) Hamilton of Tucson, AZ. Owner of Mudville Pottery Studio in Somerville. Nan leaves behind a vibrant pottery and Airedale terrier community and a loving family of close friends. Donations in Nan's memory may be made to Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

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Published by Boston Globe from Nov. 19 to Nov. 21, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for NAN HAMILTON

18 Entries

Carolyn Asbury

May 25, 2024

Today would have been Nan's 78th birthday. She gave me much joy by sharing so much of what she knew about pottery. I hope she finally completed the zodiak dinnerware set she started more than 50 years ago. She told me that she learned pottery in the first place so that she could make herself the set. She didn't want to finish it until she was ready to stop potting.

Carolyn Asbury

May 24, 2024

Nan was my pottery mentor. I started classes with her in 1976 and then began teaching at Mudville a few years later. We moved the studio to Somerville when the Inman Square rent went up one too many times. She bought the property on the Corner of Pearl St. and McGrath Hwy. After I moved to Western Mass we lost touch, writing every few years. I just started potting again and wanted to thank Nan for the skills she passed on to me. I have a few carved and painted pieces; great salt shaker collection full of whimsy that she was so great at. I'm so sorry to hear through Google that she passed.

Karen

March 14, 2024

Her work gave me such joy. I am so sad to learn of her passing. What a fabulous talent she had.

Barbara

June 20, 2023

Hi...
I was a fan of her Airedale pieces when I found her pots for sale on line...
So sorry for your loss.
She was amamazing artist.

A

Marylka Pattison

April 28, 2023

Nan was the daughter of my Tucson mother's best friend Zilpha. A few years older than I am, she became the babysitter for the 6 Pattison brats for a while in the 1950s. In spite of tolerating a bunch of troublemakers, likely for less than 40 cents an hour, she always had a smile on her face. She & her mother were both readers, & when I was stuck in bed after a 1968 appendectomy, Zilpha brought me a book she said Nan recommended. It was one of the few fiction books I've loved in the last 55 years. Thank you Nanny!

Maria Sauzier

December 16, 2022

Nan has left so many people with warm memories of her joyful and generous approach to life, and with beautiful pottery that bears the mark of her talent and her heart. I got to know Nan when her studio was in Inman Square and I could walk over to classes - I don't even remember how many decades ago. Like others, I stood in line in front of Mudville, rushing to the pot(s) I had fallen in love with at her Open House. They still bring a Nan vibe into the house, they make me smile, they express her love of life, her strength and optimism even when faced with illness, they are the legacy of her creativity and talent.
Hard to believe that it’s been over a year.

Maria Sauzier

December 16, 2022

Fernanda

December 14, 2022

Conocí el fantástico trabajo de Nan por medio de Internet, quede fascinada de inmediato por su habilidad técnica pero sobre todo por que me sentí como si estuviera en un lugar amoroso y seguro, escribo esto, pues me gustaría expresar que aun que nunca tuve el honor de conocerla en persona su trabajo y su presencia toco la vida de diferentes personas alrededor del mundo.

Ann Wittmeyer Cooley

August 20, 2022

This is belated celebratory message of my life long friend, Nan. We first became friends playing on the Rincon High School Girl's Tennis Team with Coach Lois DuBois. We shared time in Spanish Class with Nan's classic skit about a fly in the soup at a restaurant. After we went our separate ways in University, I only reconnected with Nan via email after Clayton connected us. Over the last 20 years we e-chatted and I was amazed to see her pottery creations. She was always so talented and a real free spirit. I remember her initial efforts at knitting when she created a "blueberry" stitch for a sweater. We also use to practice Spanish by conjugating original verbs (eg. chachachar for to dance) while walking to one another's homes. Never to be forgotten, my lifelong friend, NAN.

Linda Henry Orell

April 9, 2022

Nan and I were neighbors in Somerville and walked our dogs together in the woods at Medford. And I became her student at Mudville, spending happy hours potting there. When my Irish Setter, Spirit, died, Nan created a portrait box with Spirit’s beautiful face on the the lid, sending it to me here in Albuquerque. That box is on my bedside table as I write this and truly grieve her passing. She had a beautiful spirit, shared generouslyI will light a candle for her nowwith a Deo gratias for the light she shared.

Jennifer Smith

January 26, 2022

Nan was the only potter I ever collected. She had so much heart in her work. So sad to hear of her passing. Always hoped to visit mudville one day.

Eva Jane N. Fridman

December 4, 2021

I have been a devoted follower of Nan's beautiful work; I have a large collection of her wonderful pottery which I use and enjoy. There was no one like her, in her wonderful handling of technique, imaginative and delightful painting and her love for animals which shone through all her work. Birds with ribbons, cats marching up a vase, children and animals enjoying birthday parties! Each piece is such a treasure. I used to talk with Nan at every show and we shared a mutual love for pottery and animals and beauty of our world. I used to sit on the stoop of Mudville starting before midnight the night before the show, in order to get ticket no. 1 to enter the show at 10a.m., I loved her work so much. I will miss her greatly. Eva Jane N. Fridman

Jean Cotton

December 3, 2021

Nan was an exceptionally talented potter and artist. She took the time with me to explain and share techniques of her work with this fellow potter which was very much appreciated. I have several of her wonderful ceramic mugs which I'll always cherish. I visited her studio several times in the past and it was always a pleasure to talk with her. I'm saddened to hear of her passing.

Alan Rohwer

November 28, 2021

So sad to hear of Nan's passing. I knew her from her days studying astronomy. I reconnected with her a few years ago & we shared memories of those days.
My condolences to those who knew her.

Julie Nielsen

November 28, 2021

I have never met Nan but have loved her from afar for many years. When I was setting up my pottery she was my idol. She was so generous with her glaze and technique knowledge. I was just admiring her amazing work wondering what she was doing and found she had passed. I am deeply saddened by this news. She gave us such beauty, love you, thank you Nan.

Michelle Plakas-Kaiser

November 26, 2021

RIP

Karen Richards

November 22, 2021

I met Nan when we were both members of the Christmas store craft co-op. I admire her for living an exceptionally creative life. She leaves a legacy of sharing and teaching her talent. She was a brave and bold traveler. So many people benefited from the time she spent in this world. Thank you Nan.

William j. Coccoluto

November 20, 2021

Always remember our thousands of walks with the girls
Love
Bill

Showing 1 - 18 of 18 results