Hamilton attended the McCallie School and the University of Tennessee. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard at sea for three years, mostly in the Pacific theatre and earned two bronze stars in eight amphibious landings. After returning from the war, he married Dorothy Ann Gilliam in 1950 and established a laundry machinery business in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, during the early 1950s. In 1958, he sold his interest and moved his family to St. Croix, where he became active in the real estate and construction industries.

Early on, Hamilton became interested in Virgin Islands politics and joined the Donkey Democrats in 1959. In 1966, he was elected to the 7^th V.I. Legislature as a district senator on the Victory ’66 slate. He was re-elected in 1968. During his two terms, he was chairman of the conservation and commerce committees. Also, during his time in the Legislature, Hamilton proposed and got passed legislation protecting St. Croix’s East End environment and a number of old Danish structures in the towns. He advocated development of Gallows Bay to include a boardwalk connecting to downtown Christiansted with a bulkhead on the western shore to accommodate mini cruise ships. Hamilton was active in developing the industrial incentive program and aid to small business owners. After serving in the Legislature, he served as financial chairman for Delegate Ron de Lugo for a number of years.

Hamilton’s Virgin Islands business career began with the formation of a real estate brokerage firm with partners Gil Erikson and Donn Schindler. Together the partnership developed a number of St. Croix subdivisions, the more notable being Royal Manor, Diamond and Ruby, Queen’s Quarter, Peppertree Hill, William’s Delight Village, Mon Bijou, Cane Bay, Orange Grove, Grapetree, Hope and Carton Hill, and Seven Flags. In 1963, the real estate firm brought Pueblo Supermarkets to St. Croix and in 1970 brokered and assisted the DeChabert family n developing the Sunny Isle Shopping Center.

In addition to the real estate firm, he became president of the Christiansted Port Terminal Corporation in 1962, which he organized to develop the 14-acre Gallows Bay area into a light industrial park. The area evolved into the present Gallows Bay Marketplace. The corporation also bought the Ford dealership (PortCo Motors) and formed a heavy equipment company (Midland Equipment Co.). Hamilton sold his interest in 1968. In 1969, he organized and built the Skyway Inn, a 26-room hotel and Cessna aircraft center at the St Croix Airport. The hotel and hangar were destroyed in Hurricane Hugo. He also proposed a plan to run an underwater pipeline from eastern Puerto Rico to St. Thomas that would supply St. Thomas with inexpensive potable water. The plan was endorsed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, but the V.I. government failed to enact the required legislation.

Hamilton served in many civic and government organizations. In 1964, he was elected president of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce and re-elected in 1965. In other civic service, he served on the Volunteer fire Department, was the chairman of the organizing committee of Island Center, and was a founding patron of St. Dunstan’s School. He and his wife were members of the Landmarks Society, Botanical Garden and the St. Croix Yacht Club.

He served on the V.I. Planning Board from 1962 to 1965. He was appointed as an overseer of the University of the Virgin Island by Gov. Paiewonsky, In 1986, Hamilton was instrumental in obtaining a gift of 350 acres of St. Croix land for the university, which later sold for $11 million. He was also a trustee of the Good Hope School and was an initial financial patron of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in the British Virgin Islands.

By 1978, the real estate firm became Hamilton Real Estate, which introduced many innovations to the local real estate industry including the territory’s first multiple listing service (Central Listing Service), the first color real estate magazine (St. Croix Homes), open house appraisals, and mandatory in-house sales training and procedures for sales associates. Hamilton served as president of both the St. Croix and Territorial Boards of Realtors. He opened Island Real Estate Ltd. in the British Virgin Islands in 1979 with Pam Romney as partner and local broker. Hurricane Hugo in 1989 destroyed both of his St. Croix real estate offices, and after rebuilding, Hamilton semi-retired, having turned the firm over to his son, Greg, and Patrice Kelly.

In his retirement, Hamilton became proficient as a model ship builder and constructed a series of steam whaling ships for the New Bedford Whaling Museum in addition to writing a monograph on whaling harpoon cannons. He also wrote the book “The Schooner Vigilant of St. Croix” and built a model of the Vigilant, which is on display at the Whim Museum. He traveled extensively in Europe but most enjoyed Denmark and Norway, where he visited to do research. He was an avid yachtsman, sport fisherman and aircraft pilot.

His passing was preceded by his beloved wife of 57 years, Dorothy. He is survived by his son, David “Greg” Hamilton Jr. and daughter-in-law, Amy; his daughter Robin Hamilton-Brooks and son-in-law, Michael; and grandchildren: Ryan Books, Alexander Brooks, Coral Ann Hamilton, Keely Scott and Bryce Scott. His sister, Robin H. Catanach, and her husband, Frank Catanach, also survive him on St. Croix.

Dave Hamilton and his wife spent 48 years on St. Croix and always said: “They were the best years any family could hope for.” His ashes will be spread across the waters of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. A memorial service will be planned at a later date.