Sally, forever friends

Sally Hamilton, May 4, 1944 – June 26, 2022

Standing erect, Sally always moved confidently through life. She was educated and successful, and generous to others. Each person received the benefit of her kindness. She was fiercely independent, walking by herself for the first day of school while her mother followed secretly behind.

We travelled together on some beautiful trips. A few notable differences arose in our lifestyles. I woke early and she slept late. The best trip was a seven-day “forced march,” as we called it, to Rome, Tuscany, Florence, and Venice. We had guides meeting us every morning after breakfast to take us to the Coliseum, the Vatican, the Uffizi and Academia Galleries in Florence. Trains transported us to these cities. While she lifted her deluxe suitcase over her head, I shoved my miniature suitcase into its tiny spot. She wanted choice. I wanted “only the right outfit.”

After three wonderful cities, we reached Venice. Our beautiful young Italian guide stood politely in front of us. We begged her to skip the museums and show us Venice on foot. Our favorite parts of the trip were the spontaneous ones: the keyhole in Rome; walking in Rome at night and visiting small cafes; and of course the private speed boat ride to Torcello across the canal in Venice (mentioned in Harold Pinter’s play “The Betrayal”).

Our friendship took us to Duchess County, NY, when Sally bought a small Victorian house with a barn. The gardens and the birds were magnificent. We also found a small country church, St. Peter’s Episcopal, where we made many friends and enjoyed the fine preaching of the kind minister. When Sally sold her country house and her co-op in Greenwich Village, she moved to her hometown of Cincinnati to be near her son Andrew. I moved to Asbury Park, NJ, while my son Gregory lived in Brooklyn. We remained close through phone, text and occasional trips to New York City. The pandemic cancelled our trip to Berlin, but we were ready for more travel once the opportunity arrived.

Our last trip was mid-March to New York City. We made the most of a changed city, seeing a play called “English,” walking, enjoying good meals and staying at The Library Hotel. We also visited The New York Public Library museum exhibit and the Morgan Library. Both of us were passionate about books.

Her sentiments in last year’s Christmas letter expressed my sentiments as well. We exchanged small gifts with each other, but as she wrote, “Most of all I am grateful for your dear friendship and our daily contact.” Sally’s life on earth ended abruptly, but the memory of her spirit and good nature will endure forever.