Letter from Mary Anne Whelan, MD

Bidding Lewie Farewell

Lewis Hamilton was, quite literally, the first person I met in Cooperstown when, in 1982, I came to Bassett Hospital for a job interview. It took only the briefest acquaintance to know that he would be a fine person to join. And indeed, he was a wonderful colleague and friend. There could not have been a more intelligent, supportive and generally wonderful person to work with.

I used to tease him about his intended communications—he didn’t talk until he was four, and it could be hard to understand him, because of what had become a habitual, and sometimes, I think, a rather deliberately idiosyncratic mode of communication—I spent a lot of time saying to the residents, “Or, as Dr. Hamilton just said…”! But fortunately, as I was left-handed, my right brain usually understood what he meant and sent it over to the left, for translation. And I would tease him about it, afterward. We worked well together.

My mother spent the last year of her life at my house: I had help during the day, but at night I was the sole person and I was on night call every third week. Oddly, during that time, my beeper never went off. At the time, I thought it unusual, but just good luck. In retrospect, it was, indeed, very good luck. Lew never mentioned it nor, regrettably, did I, until now. But I know he did it.

Several weeks ago, Lew had a massive heart attack while living at the home of a dear friend in Connecticut, not far from his daughter, Heidi. He lived for several weeks thereafter but it was irrecoverable from the start. He was fully cognizant of his situation and died peacefully, comfortably, and surrounded by love, at his friend’s house (he had hated his preceding hospital stay). Heidi and his friend were present. We talked frequently during his illness and he called several days before his death to say goodbye. At least I think that was what he was saying. No, I know it was.

So long, Lewie, see you later. Love! Mary Anne.

P.S. I expect to have my usual trout, in the spring.

Mary Anne Whelan, MD
Cooperstown