Faith, family, home and helping others are Gerry Hamilton’s secrets to a satisfying retirement. Christmas was especially nice for the Hamiltons this year. “With my two daughters and four grandchildren all here, we filled an entire pew at Christmas Eve services!” she said. She speaks with evident pride about her grandchildren who range in age from 17 to 30. In fact, she and her husband agree that they should have had the grandchildren first! Her advice about grandparenting: “If you respect and love your grandchildren, they will respect and love you back.” And she adds, “If your children are doing well and doing the right things and they are happy, you can’t help but be happy.”
Retirement came sooner than expected for Gerry Hamilton. She had gone to work in 1974 with the Division of Family Services (DFS) in Platte County. In May of 1984, Gerry had a case load of 35 foster families. She was representing 13 foster children in Circuit Court and she had petitioned the court to release 5 for adoption. Due to her passion for the welfare of “her children,” she almost cancelled a scheduled appointment with her physician because she did not wish to take time off from work. In addition, she was fearful that she would be told that she had to retire, due to a disability. She reluctantly appeared for the appointment. Her fear was justified as she failed the “stress test” and was admitted to the hospital for treatment of a heart problem.
Although it was hard for her to leave DFS, she recalls fondly that, around Mother’s Day, some co-workers came to see her in the hospital and brought her good news. Several of the children she had been working with had been released to be adopted. She recalls feeling very happy and grateful for that special Mother’s Day gift. Gerry stayed in touch with former co-workers after her unplanned departure by occasionally inviting them to her house for lunch. “It was nice, in retirement, to have the time to visit” she says.
After her unexpected retirement, she underwent three angioplasty procedures within a 120-day period. Then she busied herself by working on getting well, taking care of her home and garden and volunteering. “I didn’t plan to retire, I just decided to make the best of it,” she said. After several years, her husband also retired. They did what many dream about and took a trip to Puerto Rico. This was her “first and last travel outside the adjoining 48 states.” While they enjoyed the trip, she said they really enjoy being in their own home. Gerry says that, after 62 years of marriage to her husband, a retired U.S. Magistrate Judge, she finds that married life continues to be exciting. To what does she credit such a long, happy marriage? Without hesitation, she says, “Keep respecting each other, enjoying your love and remember your commitment to God!”
Gerry adheres to the philosophy that a person should leave a little more in this world than he or she takes out of it. As a member of the General Federation of Women’s Club for more than 50 years, she still contributes by helping with fundraising projects that benefit the Synergy House and Missouri Girl’s Town - two organizations that help abused or runaway children. In fact, this past Christmas, Gerry personally sold 51 poinsettias as part of a fundraising effort. She also is a regular church attendee and active in the Parkville Art and Literature Club and other civic activities. Gerry says that many individuals do not make the most of their retirement years. She has found that, “Not only is retirement an opportunity to start a new life,” it is also, “a great opportunity to prove the old adage, you get out of life what you put into it!”
