Jack Hamilton's passion for tennis led him to be a key player in establishing tennis facilities as well as neighborhood parks on Oahu. JOHN LEONARD HAMILTON JR.
Architect pushed for Kailua
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parks and tennis courts
By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comHamilton's daughter Sarah Preble said he would constantly watch and play tennis. Once a week, they would play tennis together.
"He always won," she said.
Hamilton, an active community member, died March 22 at the Pohai Nani Good Samaritan Retirement Community.
He was 97.
His body was donated to the University of Hawaii medical school.
John Leonard Hamilton Jr. was born on Dec. 4, 1904, in Chicago.
He worked as an architect at a New York firm called York & Sawyer. From 1942 to 1944, he helped design Tripler Army Medical Center.
Hamilton and his wife, Betty, moved in 1966 to Kailua, where he devoted many years as an active volunteer, primarily in parks and recreation programs.
Hamilton was a member of the Kailua Community Recreation Council, serving as chairman from 1974 through 1978. Also, he organized and headed the council's tennis committee that proposed designs of tennis courts at the Kailua Recreation Center.
Hamilton was instrumental in the establishment of the Kawainui Community Park, Kalama Beach Park and Maunawili Neighborhood Park. He also played a key role in getting a swimming pool built at Kailua District Park.
He also was a member of the Honolulu Tennis Advisory Council, where he served as chairman of the Facilities Committee. The committee evaluated and recommended changes on specifications for all Department of Parks & Recreation tennis facilities.
"He was a perfectionist," said Preble. "He would stick to something until it was done right."
Hamilton is survived by son Philip Hamilton, daughters Carol Hamilton and Sarah Preble, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A private service will be held in Portland, Ore.