James Kennedy Hamill

NASHUA- James Kennedy “Ken” Hamill passed away on December 10, 2016 after a long illness. Ken, born in Cincinnati, lived a life full of music, travel, sports, history, and incredible generosity.

He loved jazz as well as the works of John Denver, and found joy and solace in his music up until the day he died. Ken’s love of jazz took him to many a club in NYC during his college years, when he would drive up with friends from his university in New Haven.  He loved to share tales of seeing Louis Armstrong live on stage not far from Ken’s table.

Later, he would take his nieces and nephews to Harborlights concerts on summer nights to see John Denver and Diana Krall. Ken spent many years living in Great Britain and later travelled far and wide, from Montana to New Zealand in search of the perfect rainbow trout, in his many fly-fishing adventures. He felt blessed to have seen some of the most wild, beautiful places on earth. He was an avid sports fan  - kept the Cincinnati Reds close to his heart despite living in Red Sox Nation. He named one of his beloved dogs after Ken Raffensberger, the Reds’ starting pitcher. Ken loved the Pats and all college football, enjoying many a weekend game with his nephews. He was an accomplished skier, golfer, and angler, and shared these passions with his nephews, taking them across the country and the Atlantic to Vail and Prestwick for sports adventures.  This love of travel and sports helped create the company Ken started in the late 1970’s: Adventures in Golf.

Ken founded the company with partners in Great Britain and worked very hard to make it the successful business it became. He remained a very supportive presence at AIG long after his retirement. Ken was also a historian – his breadth of knowledge of European and American history was astonishing. In his last months, when he needed some light reading, he would turn to Winston Churchill, as he had read all the statesman’s works and could pick them up and start reading anywhere.  Ken’s generosity to his family, friends and local charities was unbounded. He loved to share his knowledge and interests with his many nieces and nephews. He gave tirelessly and generously to the Nashua PAL and the Wounded Warriors Project. 
Ken will be missed enormously by his family, including siblings Jane Sommer and Samuel McClintock Hamill, brother in law Sandy Sommer and sister in law Johanna Watson Hamill. His nieces and nephews have many, many wonderful memories of good times with “Uncle Ken”: Lila K. Hamill, Leanna Hamill, Samuel M. Hamill, Christopher Hamill, Sarah Hamill, Sandford S. Sommer, Jane S. Millard, and Graydon H. Sommer.

Interment and memorial at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati will be private. Arrangements entrusted to the care of ANCTIL-ROCHETTE & SON FUNERAL HOME, 21 Kinsley Street, Nashua, NH. 
 

 Service Information