~ IN MEMORY ~
Dr. Mary Jane (Miggie or M.J.) Hamilton, wife of WA/DL Capt. David L. Reed
April 26, 1939 – June 17, 2023
Dr. Mary Jane (Miggie or M.J.) Hamilton, died at home, Carmichael, CA, in her bedroom, overlooking the American River at age 84. The cause of Miggie’s death was obstructive pulmonary failure caused by double lung pneumonia.
Miggie was born and raised in a traditional Irish Catholic family in Rockford, Illinois. Her mother, Mary Jane Cannell Hamilton was a school teacher and her father Raymond Edward Hamilton retired from the U.S Postal Service. Miggie attended St. Mary’s and Muldoon High School in Rockford.
One of MJ’s most coveted Honors was:
“Doctor of Humane Letters, honors causa conferred upon Mary Jane Hamilton May 4, 1986 by Siena Heights College, Adrian Michigan:
Mary Jane Hamilton, your dedication to high quality education and your concern that women be given every opportunity to fulfill their potential was nourished here at Siena where you received your Bachelor of Arts degree in history with minors in Latin, English, and music. You then received your masters and doctoral degrees in medieval history from the Catholic University of America where you were a Woodrow Wilson Fellow.
You began your teaching career in the California State University system at Sacramento where you taught history and criminal justice until 1979. You also served the University through your activity as officer in the Faculty Association and the Faculty Women’s Association.
You completed a law degree at the University of California-Davis and have been a member of the State Bar of California since 1975. You have maintained your commitment to education by teaching criminal justice and law. After an administrative fellowship at California State University-Los Angeles, you assumed duties as assistant dean of the law school at the University of California-Davis.
Your talents have been recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities which provided a grant to study at Harvard and by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare which awarded you a National HEW Fellowship.
Your activities and publications speak of your concern for the effect of law on the status of women: you are concerned that women know their rights; you have specialized in family law which has an important impact on women’s lives today; you have also been involved in issues affecting women attorneys.
Mary Jane Hamilton, for your commitment to the quality education of future lawyers and for your activities on behalf of women, Siena Heights College is proud to present you the degree Doctor of Humane letters, honoris causa.”
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Even as a lawyer, Deputy Attorney General, State of California, (specializing in child support), MJ continued to nurture her love of history. She taught a night class on the History of Western Civilization at Sierra College and remained an active participant in the annual meetings of the American Historical Society. She was present at Martin Luther King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. She was in the crowd of over 1 million witnessing the funeral procession of President John F Kennedy on November 25, 1963 during her time at Catholic University.
Miggie traveled extensively, with her best friend/spouse Western/Delta Air Line Captain and “Wingman” (her term) Dave, and many family and friends, immersing herself in different cultures and indulging in her passion for art, history, symphony, opera, theater, ballet, and literature. She actively participated in multiple book clubs. In her retirement years, MJ volunteered as a docent at the Crocker Art Museum and enjoyed serving on the board of the Kingsley Art Club. She was a member of Preservation Sacramento.
One of MJ’s proudest achievements was to see the first class at UC Davis School of Law admit over fifty percent women when she was on the Admissions Committee for admitting law students. She was a President of WLS, and on the Board of California Women Lawyers, as well as an active Member of Sacramento County Bar Association.
Miggie is predeceased by her siblings John, Sheila, and Joseph. She is survived by her “Wingman” and Spouse, Captain David L Reed, her sister Anne Rosaire Hamilton, and her nieces Carlene Ramus, Dr. Catherine Ramus (Dr. Didier Cossin), Christina Ramus (Brett Regan), Dr. Carrie Hamilton (Dr. Patrick Lenaghan), and Chris Svab (Jamie). She is also survived by her great-nieces and great-nephews, Madison and Michael Regan, Clark Cossin, Anna Svab, and Miranda and Ian Lenaghan.
Miggie has donated her body to science through UC Davis School of Medicine for the purpose of education and research.
A memorial celebration will be held at the Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento from 2pm to 4:30pm. Sunday, June 25, 2023
Remembrance Memorials can be made to the Crocker Art Museum, Kingsley Art Club or Siena Heights College, Adrian Michigan
Remembrance Memorials can be made to the Crocker Art Museum, Kingsley Art Club or Siena Heights College, Adrian Michigan