Jesse Hamilton, 49, Dane Decor co-owner

Jesse Hamilton, 49, of Chester Springs, co-owner of the furniture firm Dane Decor and a football coach, died of an apparent heart attack Sept. 3.

Mr. Hamilton was on his way to the first practice of the season at Lionville Middle School when he was stricken. This was his third season coaching the school's team. Previously, he coached the Pop Warner Marsh Creek Eagles in Glenmoore for 10 years.

"Every practice and game Jesse coached included him exuberantly exclaiming, 'It's a great day,' and his players completing the sentence, 'to be a football player,' " said Eric Stockhausen, who also coached for the Marsh Creek Eagles. "He wanted to teach the kids how to play the game the right way and have a lot of fun doing it. I never heard him scream or berate a kid - ever, always encouraging them," Stockhausen said.

In 2006, Mr. Hamilton was the first inductee into the Marsh Creek Football Hall of Fame. The league plans to dedicate its athletic field to him when it is completed next year. Next to being home with his family, his favorite place was on the football field with his team and coaches, said his wife, Rhonda Cline Hamilton.

Mr. Hamilton graduated from Downingtown High School and earned a bachelor's degree from West Chester University, where he met his wife during freshman year.

After graduating, he joined the family business, Dane Decor. His mother, Gloria Hamilton, established the company in a former Presbyterian church in Downingtown in 1973. She died in 2000, and the Downingtown store and three other locations were operated by Mr. Hamilton and three of his brothers.

In 2006, he told an Inquirer reporter that much of the chain's success was knowing what the customer wanted. "There are some things that don't change," he said. "People always want good service and unique design and the ability to customize things. They like natural products like real wood and leather, and they appreciate the craft of a well-made piece of furniture."

Mr. Hamilton was active in fund-raisers for the Lionville Community YMCA and supplied furnishings for its additions. He was named the YMCA's volunteer of the year in 2007.

He and his wife enjoyed traveling for business and pleasure and visited Africa, Mexico, Canada and Europe.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Sean and Eric; four brothers; and three sisters.

A life celebration will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Dane Decor, 216 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown.

Memorial donations may be made to the DASD Jesse Hamilton Student Athlete Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Paul Hurley, 50 Devon Dr., Exton, Pa. 19341.