Darlene Hamilton’s most prized keepsake from her impactful career in child care and education advocacy was not an award or a medal but a small neighborhood trolley, given to her by her mentor Fred Rogers from the set of his beloved television show for children. Hamilton ’72 Lib was a consultant for the show early in her career. 

“She loved children,” says Harry Hamilton ’73 Eng, her husband of 50 years. “She wanted to make sure children were respected and got proper care.” 

The couple met on a blind date during their freshman year at Penn State, where Harry was an engineering student on the golf team and Darlene was earning her degree in social work. The two married in June 1974 and eventually had two daughters, Megan Gottlieb ’02 Eng and Sarah Chlebowski ’04 Edu. 

While the girls were young, Darlene returned to school to earn her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, a move that made personal the importance of quality child care for all parents. Her career blossomed first at the YWCA in Pittsburgh, where she became associate executive director after guiding the expansion of YWCA child care by administering governmental grants. She became executive director with the Northwest Institute of Research, and then technical director at ICF International, managing federal child care grant programs.

“Her biggest accomplishment was the improvements in early child care and education for children that she saw through her career,” Harry says. “That was her mission.” 

The couple retired a few years ago to Hilton Head Island, S.C., where Darlene loved shopping, reading, gardening, and doing needlepoint. 

She died Aug. 16, 2024, on Hilton Head. She was 73. Besides her husband and daughters, she is survived by a granddaughter, Maya Gottlieb. —Robyn Rydzy '95 Com