Hillsboro, NH – Charles Edmund Hamel, Jr. passed away on May 26, 2026. “Chick” was born on October 21, 1930 in Worcester, MA to Charles Damaund Hamel, Sr. and Constance (Connie) Grace Hamel (Sharon). He graduated from Worcester North High School where he excelled at football and baseball.
Chick served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return, he married his wife of 70 years, Mary Ann Hamel (Marlowe) in February of 1953 and started their family later that year. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in education from UMass Amherst, before starting a 38-year career as an educator in the New Hampshire Education system. He worked in several towns including Marlborough, Troy, Antrim, Peterborough, Wilton, Hillsboro and Henniker. It was his love of sports that brought him to coaching at many of these schools. Chick also coached youth sports and was the head basketball coach at Nathaniel Hawthorne College. Chick was the Park Manager at Pillsbury State Park in Washington, NH for 28 years. Chick continued to stay active playing softball until he was 85.
Upon retirement he and Ann spent time traveling and spending time with family and friends. They lived in West Yarmouth, MA, Palm Harbor, FL and in Bow, NH before returning to Hillsboro, where they spent their final years.
Chick was predeceased by Charles Edmund Hamel, Sr. and Constance (Connie) Grace Hamel (Sharon), Edward Sharon Hamel (brother), Mary Ann Hamel and Nick Zimmermann (grandson). He is survived by his daughters, Deborah McDonald, Joanne Hayes (and Richard), Kathy Hamel, Susan Kingsbury (and Allan), Stephanie Garon (and Matt) and his son David Hamel (and Mel). He also leaves his grandchildren, Garrett McGovern, Molly McGovern, Elizabeth McEachern (and Jeff), Katlyn Miniaci (and Gerard), Emily Jobin, Kalen Garon and Emerson Hamel, and his great-grandchildren, Riley McGovern, Teagan McGovern, Bodhi McGovern, Adrianna Bingham, Zachary Spaulding, Temperance Zimmermann, Mirabelle Zimmermann, and his brother-in-law Edward Francis Marlowe.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to an area youth sports program.
Memorial Services will be held at St. Theresa Catholic Church on June 20th at 10:00 AM.
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