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Neil Brooks Hamilton, 79, of Manasquan, NJ passed away peacefully on March 25, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Neil was lifelong champion of Manasquan, serving the community his entire life. He graduated from Manasquan High School in 1962. It was at MHS that he met the love of his life, Penny Bowers, and they married in 1965. Neil began working in construction right after high school, helping to build houses around town. He then obtained his pilot’s license and worked as a commercial pilot, flying out of Monmouth Airport delivering passengers and cargo up and down the east coast for several years. It was after this that he established his business, Neil Hamilton Painting and Decorating, well known throughout the area. Neil began serving as Manasquan Councilman in 1986 and served as Council President for part of his term, which ended in 1995. In 1997, he became Code Enforcement Officer for Manasquan until his retirement in 2010. After retiring, Neil began serving on the Manasquan Planning Board in 2011, serving as Chairman from 2014 to present. He also worked part-time in Code Enforcement in neighboring shore communities. Neil was actively involved in many local groups and events. He was an avid member of the Manasquan Republican Club. Neil was a charter member of the local Manasquan Elks Lodge #2534 in 1975 and was chosen as its first Elk of the Year. He was very involved in many town events his entire adult life, from the Centennial Celebrations to Big Sea Day, holiday happenings, and charity affairs. Everyone in town knew Neil for his loyalty, honesty, integrity and dedication and he was very well respected and loved.

Neil was predeceased by his beloved wife, Penny Hamilton and his parents Robert and Zelda Hamilton. He will be greatly missed by his loving sister, Wendie Patterson and her husband Chuck, his brother, Wayne Hamilton and his wife Donna, and his brother-in-law, Mike (E.E.) Booth and his wife Sue. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews Ronna Eddington and husband Allen, Robin Rixon and husband Matthew, James Thompson and wife Brenda, Michelle Donohue and husband Robert, Christopher Patterson, and his grandnieces and grandnephews Caitlin “Pixie” Walling and husband Emmett, Carleigh Cricchi and husband Michael, Eva and Eliza Thompson, Ryan and Emma Donohue, and Christopher Patterson, and great-grandniece and –nephews, Ellie and Emmett Walling and Callan Cricchi.

A gathering for friends and family celebrating Neil’s life will be held at Orender Family Home for Funerals, Manasquan on Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 3pm to 6pm, with a short service to be held at 5:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the A.S.P.C.A. or The American Cancer Society. In Neil’s honor we request that today you treat all others with dignity, kindness, and respect and be the gentleman that he was.