John Hamilton Obituary

John Andrew Hamilton Jr. WASHINGTON, D.C. and BREVARD, NC - John Andrew Hamilton Jr, "Andrew," of Washington, D.C. and Brevard, North Carolina, passed away on September 22 in his home in Brevard. Born in 1935 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Andrew was the eldest son of four to John Andrew Hamilton and Elizabeth Verner Hamilton of Charleston, South Carolina. Andrew led a beautifully varied life, growing up both abroad and in the US. His father served in the Foreign Service during which time the family lived in the Dominican Republic, France, and Belgium, among other countries. His favorite childhood home was in Havana, Cuba. A graduate of Christ School in Arden, North Carolina, Harvard College and the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, he was a gifted student whose knowledge, memory, and curiosity continued to be a gift to his family, friends and colleagues. A stint during high school as an elevator operator in the US Senate began his career in Washington, D.C., which he would eventually call home for most of his life. His work in Washington took him from journalism, at outlets such as Congressional Quarterly, to government, at the National Security Council among others, to NGOs, at the World Bank. He was an integral and proud member of President Reagan's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management in 1984, and instrumental in George H.W. Bush's shift from a strategy of containment to a strategy of inclusion regarding Gorbachev and the Soviet Union. For the last thirty years, he has written editorials for the Post and Courier of Charleston, SC, which kept his mind engaged all the way until his recent illness. Known for his love of poetry and ability to recite from memory, he also contributed to the New Criterion on these topics. Andrew chose to return to Brevard for the last period of his life, living in a home that has been in his family for four generations and which was filled with happy memories from his childhood. He spent his final days at home, where he wanted to be, surrounded by family, friends, music, and magical sunsets. He is survived by his brother, David Verner Hamilton; five children: John, Saskia, Claudia, Emma and James; and eight grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church, Georgetown in Washington, D.C., at 11:00 am on October 13, 2022. A local memorial in Brevard is planned for the Spring. Donations can be made in his name to the Rosedale Conservancy, which he helped found, and the Blue Ridge Mountain Conservancy, which protects the mountains he loved so much. To leave a condolence for the family of Andrew Hamilton, visit "Tributes" at www.mooreblanchard.com. Moore-Blanchard Funerals & Cremations is honoured to serve the family. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston