John McFarland Hamilton

John McFarland Hamilton, M.D., 90, of St. Petersburg, died January 24, 2016. He was born on July 5, 1925 in Lebanon, Tennessee, the son of Courtnay Cowper Hamilton and Sarah Williamson Hamilton. He was predeceased by his wife Imogene (Imy) Nicholson Hamilton, and his three brothers, Courtnay Cowper Hamilton, Jr., James Deering Hamilton, and Roger Kirkpatrick Hamilton. Survivors include his loving companion, Nancy Cunningham, his children, Susan Hamilton Churuti (Bob), John McFarland Hamilton, Jr., Courtnay Cowper Hamilton III (Kitti), and Scott Deering Hamilton, his grandchildren John McFarland Hamilton III (Marina), Marissa Autumn Hamilton, and Savannah Haley Hamilton, and his great-grandchildren, John McFarland Hamilton IV, and Nicole Evica Hamilton, as well as his sister-in-law Lovell Kasten, and nieces and nephews, Kirk Hamilton (Maggie), Blair Hamilton Flowers, Chris Kasten (Janet), Kerry Platt (Don) and Paula Scott, and numerous great-nieces and nephews. He graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in 1943, and volunteered for the Army at his graduation ceremony. He served as a Lieutenant in the Navy from 1943-46, attending Tulane University through the V-12 program, where he received his B. S. in 1946. He received his M.D. degree from Louisiana State University in 1949. Dr. Hamilton completed his residency in general surgery in 1951 at George Washington University and volunteered as a Captain in the US Air Force in 1951, where he saw active duty as a MASH surgeon in a program conceived by Dr. Michael DeBakey. He survived the bombing of his field hospital by taking shelter in a narcotics safe. He joined Dr. DeBakey and Dr. Denton Cooley at Baylor College of Medicine for his general and plastic surgery residency in 1953, and assisted in the first transplantation of an artificial heart in a human. He received his board certification in plastic surgery in 1960, and served as an Associate Professor of Clinical Plastic Surgery at Baylor. Dr. Hamilton opened his private practice in St. Petersburg in 1956, after his father retired to Sarasota, and continued until his own retirement in 2001. He treated patients weekly at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic from 2003-2011, and was awarded the Sister Margaret Freeman Award in 2015. He was a founder of the Cleft Palate Team at All Children's Hospital, serving as the team director from 1957-1977. He was Chief of Staff at All Children's in 1962-1963. He was also dedicated to serving at Bayfront Medical Center in positions as Chief of Surgery, Chief of Staff, as a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of Bayfront Life Services from 1985-1986, when he was awarded its A. J. Gorday Award. He invented new surgical procedures, designed instruments, and conducted medical research, publishing numerous articles in medical journals, including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Florida Medical Journal, Southern Medical Journal and Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Dr. Hamilton was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and a member of the AMA, the Southeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons (Bulletins Editor 1964-1968, President 1976), Florida Medical Association (Delegate 1970-1978) the Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons (Founding Member, President 1967-1968) and the Pinellas County Medical Society (President 1975-1976). He served on emergency trauma call on alternate weeks for over 25 years and operated on over 30,000 people in St. Petersburg. He was beloved by the medical community, emergency workers, and his patients, ranging from the St. Petersburg Police Motorcycle Squad, commercial fishermen who paid him out of their catch, burn victims, the homeless community, sex change patients, and international billionaire cosmetic surgery patients. He treated all of his patients with the same dignity, compassion and respect, and was generous in sharing his time with them, walking brides down the aisle at their weddings, attending graduations and family celebrations, and maintaining lifelong relationships with them. Dr. Hamilton was also a successful businessman. He bought his first commercial property at 424 Beach Drive in 1958, where he built his medical office and surgery suite, and over 50 years he assembled the ownership of the entire block. A man of vision, he was a fervent believer in what Beach Drive could become, and he loved to watch the crowds that now gather there, knowing the role he played. He ultimately exchanged his block with Opus South for 21 parcels of commercial retail property in their condominium projects at 400 Beach and Parkshore, which are still owned and operated by the Hamilton Partnership. He was a co-founder and board member of Anchor Savings Bank from 1982-1997. He was active in charitable organizations, and participated in fund-raising for Bayfront Medical Center, the Free Clinic, and the Florida Orchestra, which selected him for its Golden Baton Award in 1998 and again in 2010. He gave free physicals for the school system, and the Northeast Little League, where he sponsored a team for many years. He donated art to the Museum of Fine Arts, where his wife Imy was President of the Stuart Society. He was also a member for more than 50 years of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, as well as the Jaycees, Squires Club, Bucketeers, Over-the-Hill Gang, and Quarterback Club. Dr. Hamilton played in two orchestras, after he went to his 50th high school reunion, and his dear friend returned his B-flat clarinet he had played in the marching band and dance band. Dr. Hamilton was an active member of the Pasadena Community Band and the Masonic Home Band until 2015. He enjoyed reading widely, travelling with his family, following the Bucs football team, and deep-sea fishing, taking his cabin cruiser to Boca Grande for tarpon season. He collected Flemish art, and enjoyed visiting art museums around the world. Visitation with the family will take place from 4pm until 7pm on January 28, 2016 at Anderson McQueen Family Tribute Center, 2201 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Street North in St. Petersburg. To remember Dr. Hamilton, get your flu shot, arrange to donate your organs or tissue at Regenerative Biologics, Inc., 1-866-432-1164 or donorcare.org., or make a contribution of time or money to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, 863 Third Avenue North St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727)821-1200, or stpetersburgfreeclinic.org.