Ken Hamwey

October 14, 1943 - May 25, 2026

Kenneth M. Hamwey

Kenneth M. Hamwey, 82, of Bellingham, MA passed away peacefully on Monday, May 25, 2026 at UMASS Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA with loving family by his side.  He is the beloved husband for 36 years of Pauline A. (Allard) Hamwey and the late Martha (Loan) Hamwey.  He is the loving father of Travis M. Hamwey and his wife, Katie of Worcester, MA.

Ken was born in Natick, MA on October 14, 1943, the son of the late Wilbur F. and Elizabeth D. (Asward) Hamwey, and the brother of Edward Hamwey and his wife Patricia of Norfolk, MA, Ralph Hamwey and his wife, Susan of Milford, MA, and the late Philip S. Hamwey of Millis, MA. He leaves his cherished nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and grand nephews.

Ken was a longtime resident of Bellingham formerly of Millis and Natick where he was raised.  He was a graduate of Natick High School and Babson College.  Ken worked as a Copy Editor at the Framingham News in the Sports Department, and the Providence Journal starting in 1973 for 35 years as Sports Editor until retiring.  He also wrote for many local newspapers including the Bellingham Bulletin and Local Town Pages.

Ken Hamwey was approaching his 24th birthday when he entered the field of journalism.  And, when he was assigned to cover Millis politics and sports, he never realized how much he would enjoy the beat and how much he would enjoy covering the 1967 and 1968 Millis High School football teams in particular.

After six years at the old Framingham News, now known as the Metrowest News, he moved on to the Pulitzer Prize winning Providence Journal where he worked for 35-plus years, starting in 1973 and finishing up in 2008 as the Night Sports Editor.

He was blessed to have been in a field he truly loved and enjoyed.  At 78, while in semi-retirement, was still writing for a group of monthly newspapers, one of which was the Millis Local Town Pages. 

He wrote about high school sports, which he loved and cared about.  Ken’s trademark had always been to be fair, accurate and solid on the ethics front.  He was always a truthful and up-front reporter.

For many years, Ken’s “Yesterday’s Heroes” column in the Metrowest News was a must-read and its popularity spread to the 20 communities where it was distributed.  That column tracked down notable athletes and coaches and reported on their past achievements and what they were currently doing.

A graduate of Babson College where he majored in finance and investments, Ken covered the Boston Celtics from 1967-69 when stories were called in a deadline, primarily because there were no computers or fax machines back then.  The late, great Celtics coach and general manager, Red Auerbach, once held up the press corps transportation while “the kid” from Framingham (Ken was 24 then) called in his story.  That happened when the Celtics defeated the 76ers in 1968 in Philadelphia the day after Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated.  That game was historic because the Celtics won the Eastern Conference playoff series after trailing 3 games to 1.  Never before had a team rallied from being 3-1 down to win a division championship.  

Upon Ken’s retirement from the Providence Journal, he received a citation from the Rhode Island State Senate, honoring him for excelling as a journalist for 35 years.  The citation was read aloud during a session at the state house.

In 2010, Ken was honored when the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association selected him for its prestigious Distinguished Friend Award.  He received that award a year before the MIAA chose Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft for the same award.

Besides receiving the MIAA Award, Ken was inducted into the Millis High School Athletics Hall of Fame and later in the Bellingham High School Athletics Hall of Fame.  

Ken was very involved in town events and active in civic and community events, and charitable organizations.  He was a very active devoted member of the First Baptist Church, Bellingham.  Ken will be greatly missed.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, June 8th from 5PM to 7PM at Cartier’s Funeral Home, 151 So. Main St. (Rte 126), Bellingham, MA.    

Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, June 9th at 11AM at the First Baptist Church, 39 Mechanic St., Bellingham, MA.  Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 261 W. Wrentham Rd., Cumberland, RI.