Obituary

Richard Hamilton passed away peacefully on February 13, 2025, at 82 years of age.  He is survived and missed by his loving wife of 58 years, Flora (nee Brown), his three children, Fiona (Joe), Sheenagh (Gwen) and Paul, and his granddaughters, Marisa and Olivia, as well as extended family and friends.

He was born on March 13, 1942 in Newcastle-upon Tyne, England to Richard Atkinson Hamilton and Catherine Hope, followed by his sister Edna in 1944.  His father was a coal miner and his mother passed away when Richard was 13, so he learned at an early age how to cook and clean and take care of the household, with the support of a large extended family.

After leaving school at 16, Richard worked in an industrial chemistry lab at George Angus, which is where he met Flora.  He later earned a First Class Honors degree in Chemistry at the London College of Rubber Technology.  In 1978 he moved to Bolton, Lancashire, to work as a Technical Manager for General Electric, and then in 1984 he and Flora made the big decision to move their family to California.  Richard worked for International Seal in Santa Ana, manufacturing O-rings for aerospace and other applications, including the space shuttle, until he retired.  He had a very successful career and was well-respected for his technical skills and business acumen.

Richard had a great sense of humor and loved to make people laugh.  He had a thirst for knowledge and was always reading.  He loved doing the daily crossword and watching Jeopardy.  He enjoyed playing golf and cycling.  In his 70’s he was riding his bike 100 miles a week.  Most of all he enjoyed spending time with family and friends, having fun, and regaling everyone with his stories.  He really loved music, especially live music and singing and dancing.  If music was on he could not keep his feet still.  He cherished seeing Marisa and Olivia perform in orchestra, watching Olivia dance and hearing Marisa sing.

He and Flora enjoyed traveling around the U.S., Mexico, Hawaii and Europe, and took many trips back to the UK to spend time with his sister Edna, her husband Brian, and family and friends. Richard was a man of values and integrity.  He was kind and generous- always willing to help and treated everyone with kindness and respect.  His humor, story-telling, charisma and love for his family will be greatly missed and always remembered.  A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday March 1 at 1:30 PM at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Irvine, California. May he rest in peace.