Battle Hamilton slipped peacefully out of his body just as spring was getting ready to pop. Kind, sweet, witty, stubborn, modest, smart, authentic, gentle and gentlemanly, he was above all what many have described as ‘a good man.’ Born in Bronxville, New York, he was educated at The Gunnery, Vanderbilt University, the University of Sussex (UK) and finally the University of Massachusetts, where he received his Master’s degree in history.
After teaching at Rumsey Hall in Connecticut and Saint Andrews School in Delaware, Battle arrived at The Tatnall School, where he spent the next thirty-six years teaching, coaching and serving as Dean of Students. A beloved history teacher and amazing soccer and tennis coach, he was best known for his dedication to teaching the importance of tolerance, social justice and service. His Oppressions course was a life changer for many, and he knew and lived his dedication to supporting and celebrating diversity and equal rights, encouraging his students to face then stop prejudice and injustice wherever possible. He remained in touch with former students throughout his adult life, some for over fifty years, and he never forgot a name, a game or a class. Irreverent even at the end, he could bring down a room with a single clever quip, leaving people laughing or gasping. A woodworker known for his beautiful free-form slab tables, Battle humbly stated he was more of a ‘woodpecker’ or ‘wood hacker’ than a real woodworker, an opinion not shared by the many people he gifted with his stunning tables. “Whether students, players or flitches of hardwood, “ he once wrote, “I’ve always tried to honor the innate integrity of what ‘is’ and only after that work to hone, shape or otherwise help to make them shine.” And shine they did.
Battle is survived by his wife of forty-eight years, Gale Flynn Hamilton, his dearly loved children, Ashley (Pete), Ian (Noreen), Adam (Beth), Luke (Danielle/’Dani’), and his ‘adopted’ son, Chris; his six beloved grandchildren, Carter, Owen, Jack, William, Maggie and Alice Battle (‘Lissy’); his terrific siblings, Julia (Fred), Charles ‘Bud’ (Gigi) and Franny (Peter); his wonderful nieces and nephews, Fritz, Sam, Chloe, Dinah and Anna; and his three dear goddaughters, Kate, Megan and Anna Battle. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Ella Kate Hamilton and his and Gale’s infant son, Alexander.
There will be a private prayer service for Battle in the family prayer garden. A public Celebration of Life will be held at the Tatnall School, 1501 Barley Mill Road, Wilmington, De 19807 on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM.
To honor Battle’s life, you can make a contribution to The Food Bank of Delaware, The Ministry of Caring, The Southern Poverty Law Center or The Tatnall School, or you can do what Battle did so well: take a kid who is a little different or uncomfortable or distressed and take him, her or them under your wing. He’ll no doubt smile at that.
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