Certain people carry themselves with a kindness, humility and positivity that can be hard to come by. Ethan Hamilton was one of those people. Hamilton, a devoted husband, brother, son, father of two and Point Loma Nazarene University’s Athletic Director for the past 15 years, died in early July after a battle with leukemia.
Hamilton’s memorial service and celebration of life came just over three weeks after his tragic passing, and I had the opportunity to attend the service at Horizon Church in the Del Mar area. Hamilton’s passing may have been a couple months ago, but his legacy and the day set aside to honor an incredible man remains fresh on my heart.
Since joining PLNU’s athletic department at the beginning of my freshman year and being the son of PLNU’s Women’s Golf Coach — who called Hamilton his boss for nearly eight years — I had the opportunity to get to know Hamilton and see for myself why he was so highly regarded on campus.
Attending Hamilton’s memorial service was something I could have never imagined I would be doing heading into my senior year, and I can say confidently that the entire PLNU and San Diego community wasn’t expecting it either.
Horizon filled up that day. People from all aspects of Hamilton’s life found seats, and soon the final members of the crowd had no other option but to press up against the back walls of the church to squeeze into what usually feels like a massive room. It was a visual representation of the impact Hamilton left on thousands of people.
In a time of heartbreaking loss, the Lord was who the congregation honored and praised. Worship music filled the silence, Hamilton’s favorite Bible verses covered the screens on stage and the congregation turned to God as Hamilton would have encouraged us all to do.
Tears and laughs were exchanged for the next few hours as the most meaningful people in Hamilton’s life took the time to both mourn and celebrate him. Pastors who Hamilton served with delivered short messages, Hamilton’s brother, wife and kids honored him with touching speeches and Hamilton’s best friend reminded us of how funny and kind-spirited Hamilton was.
Hamilton’s father, Jack, concluded the afternoon with one final word. Not one person’s attention wavered as the man who knew Ethan best prepared to speak. And while our focus didn’t dare fade late into the afternoon, neither did Jack’s smile. He poured his wisdom and love over us as any father and longtime pastor does when speaking about someone as remarkable as Ethan.
Jack delivered this word with a peace and joy that only God could provide, and while the audience shed more tears, he reminded us of where we must turn to in a time of mourning.
July 28 was a surreal day. It was a day where I saw countless familiar faces, but under circumstances I never anticipated being a reality. It was a day where thousands witnessed a wife, daughter, son, brother and father deliver touching messages about the man most important to them. It was a day no family should have to face.
I left Horizon Church wanting to live my life more like Ethan. A life centered around faith in God, confident leadership, serving others humbly and being a joyful presence in the lives of countless people.
Every person and place was better off after encountering Ethan Hamilton. He was a model older brother, a reliable teammate and friend, a husband who loved his wife more than anything else in his life and a winner (even though he’d tell you turning PLNU into an athletic powerhouse was far less important than turning athletes into followers of Christ).
Writing a personal reflection on Hamilton’s legacy and the afternoon dedicated to honoring a man who needs much more than an afternoon of celebration felt almost wrong. Ethan deserves so much more than 800 words in the school paper, and the words of a journalism major still learning what it takes to be a meaningful writer aren’t going to properly honor a man who lived better than most.
Hamilton’s passing is far more than just a loss for the athletic department of a small, Christian school in San Diego. It is a loss for a family and a community that so heavily relied on his wisdom, guidance and spirit in their everyday lives. However, there is much to be celebrated when it comes to the life of Ethan Hamilton. We have all become better people because of Ethan, gained a deeper understanding of what it means to live a life for the Lord and received a precious reminder that our life is the most valuable gift we’ll ever receive.
