Thomas “Tom” Hamlin

Tom F Hamlin, 70, passed away on September 23, 2016 after a valiant struggle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia. He was predeceased by his mother Berta Jean Hamlin, his father Paul Arthur Hamlin Jr. and his brother Mark A. Hamlin. He is survived by his daughter Kelley May Hamlin (Tilghman Smith), sister Dee Ann Schond, brother Paul A. Hamlin III (Glynna), wife Alexis Hamlin, step-daughter Kathy Ashlock (Mike Jackson), former wife Carol A Hamlin; nieces Karlene Pascarella (Rich), Tanya Hamlin; nephews Kevin Zales, Brett Zales, Paul A. Hamlin IV (Melody), Jason Long (Rebekah); grandnieces Sierra Hamlin, Grace Pascarella, and grandnephews James Hamlin, Jace and Grayson Long, Richie Pascarella. Also his furry friends Baby 2, Smokey & Louie and long time friend Rick Demars. Tom graduated from Union Endicott High School in 1964. After serving in the US Coast Guard, he did some restaurant work, most notably Carroll’s Hamburgers on George F Highway and ended up at IBM where he worked for 28 years. He then retired to idyllic lake life at Longford Lake in Brackney, PA. A long time “jogger”, Tom started his “running career” in the mid-90’s where Kelley and Tom ran their first 5K together.   He was addicted. Tom ran numerous races in the area (if there was a shirt, he was there) and in fact, in one year ran over 52 races (7 of them marathons). He served 6 years as a Triple Cities Runners Club Board member and directed many races – most notably the Tim Fancher 5k, January Freeze 10K series and of course, Forks XV. He completed 27 marathons and then discovered triathlon. Basically if he wasn’t running the race, he was working the race and cheering on others. Everything he tried, he gave his all. Tom and a group of his PA runner friends used to do speed workouts at the Blue Ridge High School. They formed a club called the Two Big Sandwiches Running Club. When a runner wasn’t doing his best, he would say ‘Well I had 2 big sandwiches for lunch’ and the name stuck. The t-shirts were great – which made dad really happy – well, as long as they had something printed on both sides. Tom’s first love was family and was the glue that brought everyone together. From the standing room only crazy Christmas mornings, yearly Ocean City NJ trips with the nieces and nephews (how many quarters were spent in the arcade?) to the lively July 4^th parties with bouncing Barbies, eye raising fireworks and spirited exchanges where everyone ended up in the pool. He was most notably known to Kelley’s friends as “Pigger” and was “that” dad who was always on the sidelines either as coach, sherpa or supporter from softball to diving to skiing and most recently triathlon. His love and dedication was unmatched. His love of family was followed closely by music. He could name that tune in two notes and loved covering the display on the car radio to see if everyone else in the car could too. He often drove hours to see one of his favorite groups in concert only to quickly drive back home again to get to work in the morning.  Many friends and family joined in the fun. His favorite was Jimmy Buffett. If there was a Guinness Record for # of JB concerts seen by one fan, he would definitely be a contender.  Tom was a “passionate” sports fan. Sitting in the stands of the Dusters games, he could be seen with a portable radio listening to the game and never held back when it came to cheering on his team (or the refs). He loved the SU Orangemen (LET’S GO ORANGE) – Football season tickets, many Final Four Basketball tournaments, but most notably Lacrosse. “Pigger” attended over two decades of NCAA Final Four Lacrosse tournaments with longtime friends and every spring was just itching to see the schedules to plan his trips around NYS to watch ‘Bart and ‘Cuse. Tom never met a stranger. He could relate to anyone he met with a common thread and it was rare to not be greeted with a huge smile. His love of animals (both domestic and wild) was a constant topic of conversation and gave us many a funny story.  He had a heart of gold and would offer you the coat off his back in a heartbeat whether you were new or longtime friend or family (or kitty or chipmunk). A wonderful man who lived his life to the fullest, touched everyone he met and will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday 7 pm from the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home Tuesday from 4 pm until service time at 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Animal Care Council, 131 Washington Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760 or to an animal charity of your choice.