Obituary of Warren A. Hamula

Warren Hamula, a long time Colorado Springs and Monument resident, went to his Lord and Savior on Nov. 28th, 2014. Born June 9, 1928 to Alexander and Betty (Schenker) Hamula, Warren grew up on the "lower west side" of Cleveland, Ohio. The only child of a Hungarian immigrant, Warren found friendship and the joy of discipline in sports at a young age. When he was president of his High School class, his prowess in basketball was noticed by many college talent scouts. But Hamula chose nearby Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. There he set a school record that lasted 50 years for making the most continuous shots from the field, nearly tying the NCAA's record. In 1950 he was named to the All-American college basketball team which toured the United States playing the Harlem Globetrotters in various cities. On the baseball diamond, Hamula had a career batting avg of .385. Upon graduation from college, Hamula was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. The dental profession was the winner when instead he chose to study dentistry at Western Reserve University. He earned his DDS there in 1954 and his MSD from Indiana University in 1958. Between those professional degrees, he served his country during the Korean War as a Captain in the US Air Force. Dr. Hamula was an internationally renowned orthodontist who was in private practice for over forty years, first in Fort Wayne, Indiana and then in several Colorado locations. He was a charter member and active member of the American Board of Orthodontics and was a contributing editor of the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics for 37 years. As the founder and president of Modern Orthodontic Designs, he designed over 600 offices worldwide. Dr. Hamula was on the Orthodontic Staff at Indiana University for over a decade and was a guest lecturer at many orthodontic schools plus numerous State, Regional and National meetings. He designed the orthodontic department at Colorado and Indiana Universities among others and he authored over 80 articles on orthodontic treatment and office design. He had several patents pertaining to orthodontic equipment, cabinetry, and unique orthodontic appliances. Dr. Hamula was a past President of the Indiana Dental Association. In 1968, he received the American Association of Orthodontists Research Essay Award. In 1991, Dr. Hamula was inducted to the Baldwin Wallace Letterman's Hall of Fame. Two years ago he was honored by his alma mater when he received its Alumni Merit Award. Warren was always larger than life. He was a maverick in his profession with unbounded intellectual curiosity. He loved all sports, reading, nature and was an avid amateur photographer. Warren was also active in politics and a 'fitness bug' with keen interest in health and nutrition. In his retirement to Carmel, California, the faith in his Lord Jesus and the love for his wife Marcia carried him on during recent health challenges. The aid and special care from the faithful at Carmel Presbyterian Church added to his spiritual growth even during his final earthly verse. A celebration of life was held in Carmel on December 3, 2014. Warren was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Ruth C. Schenk. He is survived by his second wife Marcia, three children- Dr. Sharon Burow and her husband Mike of Hartford, WI; Gail Gross (husband Frank, deceased) of Hartford, WI, Dr. David Hamula and his wife Keri of Monument, CO; three grandchildren - Matthew Burow and his wife Jodi of Slinger, WI; Kate O'Keefe and her husband Ryan of Hartford, WI; and Steven Hamula of Monument, CO along with three step children and six great grandchildren. Memorials to celebrate Warren's life can be sent to: Wisconsin Lutheran College; 8800 West Bluemond Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226 for the Hamula Hungarian Foundation Mission Fund. Warren was instrumental in establishing this fund that services young children with physical challenges in Pecs, Hungary. His family travels there every other year to oversee the program and to run a summer camp.