Ron "Patch the Pirate" Hamilton Passes Away at 72

It's a sad time for singing sailors everywhere. Ron Hamilton, the beloved singer, composer, and voice of Patch the Pirate has died. After a long battle with dementia, he left this world for a better one on April 19, 2023. He was 72 years old.

Ron Hamilton played the role of the Jolly Roger's captain in the Patch the Pirate audio drama series. He wrote the scripts for 35 albums and many of the songs as well. He also played other minor roles, including the voice of Wally Whale.

The character of Patch was retired in the series in the dramatic sendoff The Final Voyage? in 2019. However, he did make one last appearance with a cameo in Mystery Island in 2020. 

Early LP cover art for a 1984 release
Image credit: Discogs

In his lifetime, Ron wrote nearly 1,000 songs and hymns, including ones for children and adults. The Patch the Pirate series is still heard on hundreds of radio stations and has sold over 2 million album copies since the series launched in 1980.

A Celebration of Life service took place at Bob Jones University on April 29, 2023. A recording of that event is available to view on their Livestream site. 

Austin Peachey is a die-hard reader and audio drama fan. He's run the Adventures in Odyssey Blog for over 12 years and has produced a few audio dramas of his own, including FaithFilled Stories. He's also helped work on the 2nd edition of The Official Guide to Odyssey and is a member of the Audio Drama Alliance.