Eleanor Vernon Hamilton

1923 - 2017

September 4, 1923 - February 27, 2017 Eleanor Hamilton passed away on the afternoon of February 27 quietly, with a smile on her face. The previous evening, she watched the Oscars with her nephew Richard Langstaff. Two hours before her death, Eleanor was visited by her niece-in-law, Estelle Langholz, who described her as "quiet, but in good spirits." Eleanor sang the chorus from "So Long, Farewell" (from the Sound of Music) to Estelle as she left. Eleanor was born in Wilmington, Delaware. She was the oldest of her siblings, with three younger brothers and three younger sisters. Her family had a deep artistic temperament, which was especially apparent in music. Eleanor's father died young, following exposure to poison during World War I. After high school Eleanor fell in love with Californian Richard P. Hamilton (Dick). During WWII, Dick was injured in an Air Force crash. Eleanor moved out west to where he was recuperating, and they soon married. Her mother and three sisters followed her. Eleanor earned a Master's degree in English from USC. Eleanor and Dick built their dream home on Concha St. in Altadena. Eleanor began her long career as a teacher at Longfellow Elementary in Pasadena. Dick's position with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center was moved from Pasadena to San Diego. Eleanor moved for a time to Encinitas, but when Dick was diagnosed with cancer, Eleanor decided to continue her teaching career in Pasadena. She commuted between the two cities until Dicks's death in October 1978 at age 56. For nearly forty years Eleanor had lived on Madison Ave. in Pasadena. She had and has many long-term friendships with members of her condo community, especially Cathy Knapp and Larry Verdugo. Also during these forty years many, many happy times were spent in Solana Beach with her best friend Dolly, husband Lou, and the entire Riddle family; as well as in Del Mar with her teaching friend Vi Chappelow and her husband Bill. Eleanor enjoyed a close relationship with her brother-in-law Dick Langstaff and his wife, Nancy. Eleanor visited them often at their home in Colorado Springs. Eleanor was a talented pianist and singer. She enjoyed opera, classical music and world travel. Eleanor enjoyed her large extended family of 18 East Coast and 6 West Coast nieces and nephews. She avidly followed the exploits of her many grandnieces and grandnephews. Closest to Eleanor were 1) nephew Richard Langstaff with whom she shared her love of opera and classical music, and his son Christopher 2) nephew Tom Hamilton, his wife Estelle Langholz, and their children Kali and Ari 3) Toni and Jim Harker and their children. During the last three years Eleanor's home care services were provided with loving care by Angela Shaw. Other members of "Eleanor's staff" were Linda Garcia, Sharlene Diego, Mina Fuentes, Marilyn Nash, Tashanna White and Shawn Downey. There will be a celebration of Eleanor's life, to be held on April 29th, at 12:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Email contact: evh.celebration@aol.com. Eleanor had a special fondness for nature, and particularly the California Redwood Forests. Eleanor purchased groves for her husband and herself in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Donations in her honor can be made at www.savetheredwoods.org (Donate/All The Ways To Give/Memorial Gift).