Hamilton S. Martell, “Bigheart”, age 85, of Wilmington, DE., passed away on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2023 at his home.
Hamilton had many nicknames, “Bigheart”, “Motts”, “Butch”, “Ham”, & “Marty” just to name a few. He was born in Philadelphia, PA. to Hamilton S. Martell, Sr. and Marie Downes Martell. He attended Waldorn Academy, in Merion Pennsylvania and Malvern Preparatory School, in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
After high school, he went into the family business, “D. Martell” Wholesale Fruit and Produce in the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While working at D. Martell he meet his beloved wife Dorothy “Dottie” a/k/a “Rooster” Standarowski. Dottie was from Wilmington, Delaware and they decided to relocate in Wilmington, Delaware, buy a house, start a career at Conrail, where he worked until his retirement in 1999. He was a member of the Railroad Workers United Union.
Hamilton was a great lover of animals from his first dog “Sniffles” who followed him home from school on a rainy afternoon and stayed his constant companion for fifteen years to his last dog his beloved companion “Lady”. He loved watching The Andy Griffith Show, Seinfeld, daytime trash TV and there was a time when you could not call him during “General Hospital”. He was an Official Fan Club Member of The Andy Griffith Show.
He loved Avalon and Stone Harbor and had many wonderful times there with family and friends. He was a lover of Jesus Christ. A friend to all the misfits, hitchhikers and vagabonds of the world, he was always helping the broken birds.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his wife, Dorothy H. Martell, his daughter, Christina L. Martell and his brother Nicholas V. Martell. He is survived by his daughter, Denise M. Martell, of Wilmington, DE, his son, Hamilton S. Martell, III of Park City, UT, his sister, Dolinda J. Balch, of Lower Merion, PA and his grandsons, Christian H. Webster, James J. Webster (Suzanne), Leo Martell and Julian Martell.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Helena’s Catholic Church, 602 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19809. A visitation will be held prior at the church beginning at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Human Animal Partners Delaware, 455 Stanton Christiana Road, Newark, DE 19713.
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