Donald J. Hunt

Glen Spey, NY

Donald J. Hunt, 81, of Glen Spey, NY, died Monday, July 7, 2008 peacefully at his home with his family and caregivers and his dog, Prince, by his side.

Born November 15, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Joseph Patrick Hunt and Henrietta Ghiggeri Hunt.

Mr. Hunt had been the owner and operator of Hawk's Nest Mechanical - Plumbing & Heating before the sale of that business in the late 1990's. He also owned and operated Hawk's Nest Realty and Eagle Country Land & Homes. Mr. Hunt was very active in many local and national organizations right up to the time of his death.

He was a charter member of the Town of Lumberland Fire Dept., a past commissioner for the Town of Lumberland Zoning Board. For 35 years he served on the Town Planning Board and the Sparrowbush Cemetery Board of Directors. Don also served as the Assessor for the Town of Lumberland for 9 years. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Bank of Matamoras, now merged with Security Bank and the Board of Directors of St. Francis Hospital in Port Jervis. He was a member and past President of the Port Jervis Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Hunt was an active member of the National Association of License Plate Collectors and enjoyed collecting them.

Mr. Hunt enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 15 and served in both the European and Mediterranean theaters in World War II between October 1942 and May 1946. He was a member of the Underage Veterans Association and is still active with LST 313 & 286 survivors, the National LST Association and the NY State LST Association and he was a life charter member of the VFW #7241 Naval Ship Post of Port Jervis, NY. He also founded a scholarship fund for children of the 1st Infantry Division Veterans, through his documentary of the War.

Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by a brother, Joseph Patrick Hunt. Mr. Hunt is survived by his wife, Florence Thiele Hunt of Glen Spey, NY; two sons, Joseph M. Hunt and his wife, Debra of Colville, WA and Donald F. Hunt and his wife, Lisa of Glen Spey, NY; five daughters, Beverly Wagner and her husband, Greg of Glen Spey, NY, Nancy Benedict and her husband, Craig of Middletown, NY, Louise Howard and her husband, Dennis of Saratoga Springs, NY, Mary Hunt of Glen Spey, NY and Patricia DeStefano and her husband, Michael of Glen Spey, NY; two step-sisters, Marion and Alma Biccum, both of Montague, NJ; 16 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Thursday, July 10 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY.

Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 11, Peter Osborne will officiate. Burial will be in the Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY with military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pine Hill Cemetery Assoc., PO Box 385, Sparrowbush, NY 12780 or to the Minisink Historical Society, Port Jervis, NY 12771.

Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit www.knight-auchmoody.com.