CONCORD, MASS. — Martha Downey Hamilton died on February 8 at the age of 91. Born on July 2, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Hugh and Marion (Garvey) Downey. Martha was raised in Lowell, Mass. 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, Mass., and Winchester, Mass., 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 the age of 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: The Colonial Era. She also restored the Nathan Hosmer house and cabinet shop in Concord, Mass., 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 as executive director at North Andover Historical Society for several years. 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 the 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 and for her scholarship having made a significant impact on the museum field. She commented at the time that this demonstrates that it is never too late to try something new.
Later in life, Martha’s happy place was her summer home by water in West Falmouth, Mass., 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 and 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.
Martha’s funeral mass took place on Friday, February 14, at Holy Family Paris in Concord and she was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.
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, Mass., 01566.
