PORTLAND – Robert “Bob” Ernest Hamilton, 66, of Cumberland Foreside, died Wednesday, Sept. 12, after a nine month battle with cancer.

He was born in Chicago, Ill., on April 1, 1941, a son of Grace (McKay) and Paul Hamilton. He grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and at the age of 16 the family moved to Watertown, Mass., where he graduated from Watertown High School. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served three years.

Bob was a man of wide interests and abilities. He worked in sales with 3M, as a police officer, private investigator, and given the strength of his personality, clarity of vision and accounting skills became a “turn-around” specialist, most notably with Delta Autobody, Team Autobody and Hay & Peabody. He was a no nonsense straight-shooter who was fair, hard-working and who was “all about business.”

In his earlier years, he was a member of the Jaycees and most recently enjoyed his volunteer work with Meals on Wheels and Ronald McDonald House, the work he did for Haven House in Portland, and as a member of Martindale Country Club in Auburn. He enjoyed model railroading, traveling, boating, golf, golf and more golf.

He will be remembered as a private man, who played his cards close to his chest, yet was full of life and humor. He was also a generous man who was always there for those in need. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his three children, Scott Hamilton of Portland, Nicole Cyr, and her husband, Bryan, of Windham and Stephanie Holmes of Topsham; his sister, Dorothy Hamilton of Massachusetts; his two brothers, Paul Hamilton, and his wife, Betty, of Massachusetts, and Jerry Hamilton of Virginia; four grandchildren, Scott, Heather, Caitlen and Cody; and one great-granddaughter, Hannah.