Dorrance Hill Hamilton
Dorrance "Dodo" Hill Hamilton | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 16, 1928 Lenox Hill, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | April 18, 2017 (aged 88) |
| Occupation(s) | Heiress, philanthropist |
| Known for | Campbell Soup legacy, SVF Foundation founder, Hammersmith Farm conservation |
Dorrance "Dodo" Hill Hamilton (August 16, 1928 – April 18, 2017) was an American heiress to the Campbell Soup legacy and a noted philanthropist who established the SVF Foundation in Newport, Rhode Island and played a key role in conserving Hammersmith Farm. Recognized by Forbes as one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States, she held billionaire status between 2005 and 2007. Hamilton owned multiple homes located in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Boca Grande, Florida, Surry, Virginia, and Newport, Rhode Island.
Personal life
Hamilton was born Marie Louise Dorrance Hill in Lenox Hill, New York City. She was the granddaughter of John Thompson Dorrance, inventor of condensed soup and purchaser of the Campbell Soup Company in 1914. The family continues to hold a substantial portion of Campbell stock. In 1950, she wed Samuel Matthews Vauclain Hamilton Sr., with whom she had three children. Following her husband's passing in 1997, she founded the SVF Foundation the subsequent year.
Pier 34 Collapse
In 1994, Hamilton, as the sole owner of HMS Ventures, Inc., acquired the barque Moshulu, which operated as a floating restaurant. Around the year 2000, she purchased Club Heat on Philadelphia's Pier 34 from attorney Michael Asbell and positioned Moshulu nearby so both businesses could function side by side.
On May 18, 2000, a portion of Pier 34 gave way due to deterioration of its timber pile foundation, resulting in three fatalities and injuring 43 individuals. Investigations uncovered warnings dating back to 1978 that highlighted the pier’s unsuitability for occupancy after 1990. In 1995, engineering assessments recommended $1.2 million in repairs; that same year, another section collapsed and was reconstructed to serve as Club Heat’s parking area.
Despite numerous alerts regarding structural weaknesses—including floor cracks concealed beneath carpeting—the establishments remained operational. On the day of the collapse, a construction company reported that failure was imminent within days. Two employees from Club Heat faced criminal prosecution connected to the incident; Hamilton financed their defense costs but was not formally charged. In 2005, she consented to a $29.5 million civil settlement for those affected by the collapse.