John Edward Hunt

John Edward Hunt
North Carolina/New York
John Edward Hunt, 87, of Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC, passed away at his home, surrounded by family and his wife, Janice Madden Hunt, on April 19, 2011. He was born an only child of Ransom Miller (Doc) Hunt, and Irma Wolff Hunt, in Rome, NY on September 1, 1923. John Hunt was educated in Utica, New York and graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1941. He was attending Hamilton College when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp, and was called to active duty during WWII in February 1943. After serving as a weatherman in the Air Force at Bluthenthal, Wilmington, North Carolina, he returned to Hamilton College and graduated as a member of the Class of 1945. He earned a LL.B. from Albany Law School of Union College in 1948. John Hunt began his career as an attorney in Utica, New York in 1948. He was asked to join the well-established Utica law firm of Kernan & Kernan, P.C. where he became a partner and president. He then distinguished himself as a highly respected trial attorney. In 1974, he was elected to the American College of Trial Attorneys in New York State, an organization limited to only the top 1% of trial attorneys in a state. John Hunt served as a Little League Baseball Coach, New Hartford Central School Board of Education Attorney, Greater Utica United Way Volunteer and President of the Oneida County Bar Association. He was a long time member of the Utica City Club. His accomplishments in the court room were excelled only by his success as a loving husband to Janice for 59 years and as a father of six children: Richard Hunt, (and Lori Hunt) a school administrator in Clinton, NY, Virginia Hunt, an attorney in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. James Hunt, (and Ellen Hunt) a dentist in Amherst, MA, Geoffrey Hunt, (and Brenda Hunt) an attorney in Providence, RI, Robert Hunt, (and Kathleen Hunt) Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Far East Brokers in St. Augustine, FL, and Constance Hunt Dirvin, a design stylist in Darien, CT. He is also survived by grandchildren Matthew Hunt, Leslie Hunt Nikiel, Jennifer Hunt, Brian Hunt, Alexander Hunt, Natalie Hunt, Jason Weinstock, Maximillian Hunt, Evan Weinstock, Ryan Dirvin, Drew Dirvin, and Brooke Dirvin. He was also the great-grandfather of Madeleine Hunt, and Theodore John Hunt. After his retirement as a trial attorney, he and Janice moved south to Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC, where he enjoyed playing tennis and golf. His favorite pastime was keeping up with the many accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, and rarely a day passed without him chatting on the phone with several family members. He remained interested in the law, politics, sports, books, and handicapping the ponies. He was a talented storyteller and entertained his family and close friends with tales told with his dry sense of humor and wry wit. A memorial service was held at the University of North Carolina Newman Catholic Student Center Parish, Chapel Hill, North Carolina on April 21, 2011. A spring burial will take place at St. Bernards Church and cemetery in Waterville, NY. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, friends are asked to kindly consider memorial donations to UNC Hospice, Post Office Box 1077, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312 or the Newman Catholic Student Center, 218 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516-2738. John wanted to thank Dr. Kim Kylstra, the UNC Hospice staff, and Barbara McQueen, nurse. He also wanted to thank his colleague and law partner, Leighton Burns and close friends Joe Lyons and Joe Tezza for their support and friendship.