George W. Hamlin IV, the former CEO and president of Canandaigua National Bank & Trust, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Wednesday. He was 83.
Hamlin led the financial institution for 45 years, overseeing a period of significant growth that expanded the bank’s assets from $85 million to nearly $5 billion by 2023. His son, Frank Hamlin III, who currently serves as the bank’s president and CEO, described his father as a “true renaissance man” with a deep commitment to the bank and its employees. “Banking is a people business, not a money business,” Frank Hamlin said, emphasizing a philosophy that guided his father’s leadership.
A Yale University graduate and a decorated Air Force pilot who served in Vietnam, Hamlin’s passion for aviation extended beyond his military career. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and later supported the development of the Canandaigua Airport. In his post-military life, he graduated from the University of Virginia Law School and practiced law in Rochester before transitioning to banking.
Throughout his life, Hamlin remained a committed community leader. He supported local arts, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Bristol Valley Theater, and played a key role in saving Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion as a state park.
Sue Stewart, a longtime friend and board member of Canandaigua National Corporation, called Hamlin a “patriot” and praised his dedication to the community.
Service details will be announced later.
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