Dr. Mark Congdon Hamilton

SPRINGFIELD, VT –Dr. Mark Congdon Hamilton passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Friday, July 5, 2024 after a brief battle with an aggressive cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma. 
As a physician, he was dedicated to the treatment of and care for his patients and their families. His commitment to his patients was one of his biggest self-defining qualities.
Mark was born on January 4, 1948 in Beverly, MA to Madelyn (Post) Hamilton and Douglas Leland Hamilton. He moved around a lot as a child, from east coast to west coast, finally settling in Scarsdale, NY. He graduated from Edgemont High School in 1966. He was a 2-year starter on their football team, a 3-year letterman in Track, and Vice-President of his Senior Class. He was also an Eagle Scout. 
After High School, he went to Dartmouth College, where he continued his Track career, earning 3 Varsity letters, each in Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track. His proudest accomplishment was being selected into the prestigious Senior Honor Society, Casque and Gauntlet. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1970.
He attended SUNY Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, NY, where he earned his MD Degree, graduating in May 1974. He did his Internal Medicine Residency at the SUNY Buffalo University Hospitals. He was Chief Resident at the Buffalo VA Hospital his last year.
In August 1975, while in Buffalo, NY, he married Kathleen Mazurowski and had his first daughter, Sarah, in January 1976. The family moved to Springfield, VT in late June 1977. Dr. Hamilton opened his private practice on July 11, 1977. While living in Springfield, VT, Mark and Kathleen welcomed their second daughter, Elizabeth, in July 1979. 
Mark and Kathleen divorced in December 1984. He married Joyce Packard Coutermarsh on May 24, 1986 and they formed a blended family of 5 children. In November 1987, he and Joyce welcomed a son, Christopher Packard Hamilton.
He had many excellent medical partners over the years, but his favorite was the group of Dr. Ted Cody, Ruth Cody, PA-C, Ellen Pinter, PA-C, Tony Petrillo, PA-C, and Dr. Wendy Klein. While in practice, Mark and his partners started the Hospitalist Program at Springfield Hospital. He was also the Medical Director of the Springfield Health and Rehab facility for more than 30 years. He was President of the Springfield Hospital Medical Staff, and he was also on the Hospital Board for several years. He was also on the Lincoln Street, Inc. Board of Directors for about 10 years.
Mark is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Joyce, his 6 kids, Sarah Lake and her husband, Larry; Amy Brunner and her significant other, John Lane; Andrew Coutermarsh and his significant other, Katelyn Miller; Elizabeth Hamilton and her husband, Adam Smith; Michael Coutermarsh and his wife, Kerri Gravel; and Christopher Hamilton and his significant other, Yashera Ames. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Rachel, Bex, and Matthew Lake; Olivia Brunner; Ella and Brady Coutermarsh; and Kai Smith; as well as his brother, Douglas Hamilton and his wife Edie, their 2 children, nephew, Scott Hamilton and his wife, Taya, their 3 children, Graham, Braden and Mackenzie Hamilton; his niece Heather Lavallee and her husband, RJ, their 2 children, Ethan and Tanner Lavallee; his sister, Stephanie Hamilton; his brother-in-law, George C. Packard and his wife, Linda Wiegand-Packard; and his aunt, Peggy Carney Davis. 
He was predeceased by his parents; his aunt, Barbara Rutherford, and her husband, Spencer; his uncle, Arthur Davis, and his wife, Barbara; his father-in-law, George C. Packard, Sr.; his mother-in-law, Janet “Sachiko Sugimoto” Packard; and his sister-in-law, Jean Packard Dawson.
Mark was a life-long Boston Red Sox, Montreal Canadien, and Buffalo Bill fan. At one time, he and Joyce were avid bicycle riders, and they also enjoyed traveling.
There will be a Celebration of Mark’s Life on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Rockingham Meeting House, 11 Meeting House Road, Bellows Falls, VT with a reception following at the Hartness House, 109 Front Street, Springfield, VT.
For their assistance, Mark’s family would like to thank Bayada Hospice, Brattleboro, VT and Cremation Society of New Hampshire, Brattleboro, VT. In lieu of flowers, in Mark’s memory, please make donations to North Star Health, 100 River Street, Springfield, VT.