Mr. John S. Hamel, age 83, of Andover died at the Lawrence General Hospital on February 16, 2015. Jack was born January 24, 1932 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and was the son of the late George E. and Marguerite (Budar) Hamel of Bradford, Massachusetts. Mr. Hamel had resided during his life in Andover, MA, Delray Beach, FL and Gilford, NH.

He graduated from the Tilton School in 1951, Burdett College in 1953 and Suffolk University in 1957. He was in the U.S. Army, Fort Eustis, Newport News, Virginia in 1953. 

As a young man, Jack worked at L. H. Hamel Leather Company in Haverhill, MA. Soon after his graduation from Suffolk, he started his business career as a sales representative for Pure Carbon Company and Da/Pro Rubber Company. From 1965 to his retirement in 1984, he was the founder and President of his own company, Polymer Products in Lawrence and Haverhill, MA and Laconia NH. Eventually, Jack acted on his love for Haverhill by returning to Haverhill and founding Polymer Realty Trust. He achieved his goal of being part of the revitalization of Haverhill by being one of the first to renovate two of the old mill buildings and repurposing them into manufacturing and office space.

Jack loved skiing in his younger years and was an avid boater and had a deep fondness for Lake Winnipesaukee in all seasons since his youth. 

He is survived by his four children and their families: John S. Hamel, Jr. of Silvermine, CT, his wife, Cristina and their two children, Caroline and Jack; Ann Hamel and her husband, Michael Canavan of East Thetford, VT and their three sons, Drew of Indiana, Morgan of California, and Owen of Vermont; Andrew Hamel and his wife, Sandy, and their two sons, Tyler and Duncan of Kittery Point, Maine, and Dr. Dennis Hamel of Andover, MA, and John’s former wife, Claire E. Hamel of Andover. Jack was predeceased by his brothers, George (Buddy) Hamel, Jr. of Haverhill, MA and Philip S. Hamel of Milford, CT.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, February 21, at 1:30PM in St. Augustine’s Church, 43 Essex St., Andover, MA. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Augustine’s School Gymnasium Fund, 26 Central Street, Andover, MA. 01810, Lazarus House Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 408, Lawrence, MA 01842-0808 or the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Charles F. Dewhirst Andover Funeral Home, 33 Pearson St., Andover, MA. 

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.dewhirstfuneral.com or facebook.com/DewhirstFuneralHome

 Service Information