Martha Downey Hamilton, age 91, of Concord, New Hampshire, formerly of Concord, Massachusetts, died February 8, 2025.
Born July 2, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Hugh and Marion (Garvey) Downey. Martha was raised in Lowell. She was proud to be valedictorian for her class of 1951 at Lowell High School. Subsequently, she continued her education at Wellesley College, graduating with an undergraduate degree in political science in 1955. Martha began her professional life in education as a teacher for the Tewksbury and Winchester public school systems.
Martha was a dedicated mother to her children, John and Linda. As part of introducing both to skating and sailing, she founded the Boots & Blades skating program in Winchester and was a member of the Winchester Boat Club, where she oversaw the sailing program.
At age 50, with her children both in high school, she pursued her passion for antique collecting and museum volunteer work and took the leap into the museum field. Her second career began with earning a master’s degree in fine art from Boston University in 1983. She flourished and became well known and beloved in the American museum and decorative arts fields. Invaluable early career experiences included doing a furniture internship with Brock Jobe as he completed the book “New England Furniture.” She also restored the Nathan Hosmer house and cabinet shop in Concord, for which she received the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s Preservation Award in 1987. Martha pursued a career as an antiques dealer and museum curator, serving for several years as executive director at North Andover Historical Society. She was also the Americana specialist at Skinner Auction for 25 years, actively pursuing research, lecturing, and publication in the American fine and decorative arts.
She devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy to museum governance and committee work, including positions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Strawberry Banke, Historic Massachusetts, and Historic New England. In 2013, she earned Old Sturbridge Village’s President’s Award for bringing to the public meaning, relevance, and inspiration through the exploration of New England life and history, as well as for her scholarship having made a significant impact on the museum field. She commented at the time that this demonstrates it is never too late to try something new.
Later in life, Martha’s happy place was her summer home by the water in West Falmouth, where she treasured the company of wonderful family and friends and the meaningful memories she made on Cape Cod.
Throughout her life she persevered, often with a wry sense of wit and frequent turn of phrase that got her and others through tough times with a chuckle. She also enjoyed athletic pursuits, even when injuries put a limit on some. She valued close friendships in the various communities in which she lived and worked. In social settings she was quick to laugh and often the first on the dance floor, especially enjoying rock ’n’ roll.
Martha was a dedicated mother to her son John Hamilton and his wife Krista Helmboldt, and her daughter Linda Hamilton. She was the loving grandmother of Tess Hamilton.
Family and friends are invited to gather for a period of visitation from 9 to 9:45 a.m., Friday, February 14, in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street. Her funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church, 12 Monument Square. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Martha’s memory and work may be made to Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566 (www.osv.org).
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence on Martha’s tribute page, visit DeeFuneralHome.com.
