All of us at Bloom were shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Nancy Hamilton, wife of Lee Hamilton, the retired representative from Indiana’s 9th District who had served in Congress for 30 years.

Nancy Hamilton, 82, died as the result of a freak accident on Saturday, August 11. She had taken her pet to the veterinarian and as she walked behind the car it rolled backward, striking her.

Just two days prior to the accident, the Hamiltons had helped Bloom Magazine celebrate its 6th anniversary at a party in the Tudor Room at the Indiana Memorial Union.

Nancy is pictured at the event with her husband Lee; Laurie Burns McRobbie, first lady of Indiana University; and Laurie’s daughter Carol Gray.

The Hamiltons were featured in the April/May 2011 issue of Bloom Magazine. In the photos in the gallery below taken at their Bloomington home, Nancy is pictured with Lee and their dog Bertha, and with portraits that she had painted of their pets.

The Hamiltons have three children—Tracy, Douglas, and Deborah—and five grandchildren. Bloomington, the state of Indiana, and the entire country mourn the passing of a wonderful woman.

—the editor