Necrology
Ernest John Steinhilber '53
Mar. 13, 1931-Jun. 16, 2022
Ernest John Steinhilber ’53 died on June 16, 2022, in Roswell, Ga. Born on March 13, 1931, in Ilion, N.Y., and raised in Frankfort, N.Y., he came to Hamilton from the Hotchkiss School in Salisbury, Conn. On the Hill, he was a member of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and majored in biology and chemistry. He played cornet in the College Band throughout his time at Hamilton, was a part of the tenor section of the College Choir as a freshman and senior, and sang in the Glee Club during his sophomore year. He was also a member of the Biology Club and the Newman Club all four years.
Jack had the distinction of being the first student in the Class of 1953 to be admitted to medical school: New York Medical College in New York City. Preparing for a career as a psychiatrist and after earning his medical degree, he was a resident at the Boston State Hospital from 1957 to 1962, at which point he began two years of military service as a physician in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was stationed at Fort Eustis in Newport News, Va., and was honorably discharged with the rank of captain.
Returning to Massachusetts, Jack established his psychiatric practice first in Wakefield before moving to Concord, and continued to practice there until his retirement in 1995. Affiliated first with Valleyhead Hospital in Carlisle, Mass., he later established professional ties to Emerson Hospital in Concord. He was also a consultant for the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Lawrence and the Lowell District Court.
He and Elizabeth Sharpe, an occupational therapist he met during his residency at the Boston State Hospital, were married on April 2, 1966. They had three sons and one daughter and made their home in Concord until he retired, when they relocated to St. Simons Island, one of Georgia’s “sea islands.”
The term “retirement” does not accurately describe Jack’s life after 1995. He continued to work as a locum tenens psychiatrist in various parts of the country, including
Alaska, Maine, and the Southwest, until 2008. On a number of occasions, he and Betty drove to the places of his assignment and enjoyed the opportunity to sample various local cuisines and visit places of natural beauty. One memorable driving trip took them from the Denali National Park to Fairbanks, Alaska. In their travels, they continued a family tradition of camping trips in destinations far from home.
Jack also volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a social service organization, and at the Seamen’s International House in Savannah, Ga., which provided assistance, including medical care, to sailors while their ships were docked.
Following his 45th reunion in 1998, Jack became increasingly engaged with the College, serving as an admission volunteer and becoming active in the Atlanta chapter of the Alumni Association. He also served on his reunion gift committee and was a volunteer for the Career Center.
On the occasion of his 50th reunion in 2003, Jack noted that his memories of the College were “varied, but Winton Tolles, Berrian Shute, John Baldwin, and ‘pompous’ Paul Parker top the list. Life is much richer because of these men and many others, e.g. ‘Digger’ Graves.” As a consequence, he said, “Hamilton launched me professionally, but more than that, the College prepared me for a fuller life far beyond medicine/psychiatry. I am indebted to the College.”
Ernest J. Steinhilber III is survived by his wife, four children, and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, William T. Steinhilber ’58, and cousin Richard G. Lennon ’60.
