Francis H. "Pete" Hunt

HUNT, Francis H. "Pete" Francis H. "Pete" Hunt of Niantic, beloved husband of Mary A. Hunt, died peacefully at home on Monday (November 10, 2008). Pete was born in Emporia, KS in 1919, but after his father Frederick R. Hunt died of influenza in 1920, Pete, his mother, Mabel (Holmes) Hunt and his older brother Frederick returned to live in New London. Two years later when Pete was barely three years old, he and his mother were passengers in an automobile that was hit broadside by a train, and while Pete escaped with relatively minor injuries, his mother was killed. His brother Fred was thereafter raised by paternal grandparents in Columbia, and Pete grew up in New London with his maternal grandparents, Francis H. and Laura Holmes. Pete graduated from Bulkeley School in New London in 1937 and he earned his B.A. "With Distinction" from Wesleyan University in 1941. He began his career as a supervisor of records and technical editor/writer at the Columbia University Division of War Research in New London in 1941. From 1944 to 1945, he served as a U.S. Army Infantry Communications Specialist, and following the Battle of the Bulge was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. In 1945 he returned to the Columbia University of War Research, then known as U.S. Navy Underwater Sound Laboratory. From then until his retirement in 1976, he successively held the positions of Staff Assistant to the Technical Director, Assistant Technical Director for Administration, Associate Technical Director for Administration and Associate Director for Center Operations. He held professional memberships in the Society for Technical Communication, the Federal Professional Association, the American Management Association and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and his accomplishments were perennially outlined in "Who's Who in America", "Who's Who in the East" and "Who's Who in Government". Pete and his first wife Kathleen moved to Niantic in 1950, and Pete will be remembered for his numerous civic activities. He served on the East Lyme Junior High Planning Committee, the New London County and the Columbia (CT) Historical Societies, the Child Guidance Clinic of Southeastern Connecticut Board of Directors, the Niantic Public Library Board of Directors, the East Lyme Nursing Association Board of Directors, the East Lyme Flood and Erosion Control Board, the Connecticut Federation of Planning and Zoning Agencies and the Niantic Lions Club. Among his civic contributions, he is best known for his commitment to and leadership of the East Lyme Zoning Board of Appeals over a period of more than 50 years. In addition, Pete was well-known for his abiding enthusiasm for genealogy. He was an active member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendents, the Governor William Bradford Compact, the Society of the Cincinnati, the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the National Huguenot Society. He served as a State Registrar for the S.A.R. and as National Chaplain for the Huguenot Society. In addition to his beloved wife Mary, he is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Thomas Hurd of Niantic; daughter and son-in-law, Laurie Hunt and Albert Brenner of West Hartford; son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Nancy Hunt of Waterford, and five grandchildren, Justin (and wife Kelly) Hunt, Gillian Ritter, Corey Hunt, Austin Hunt and Jesse Hunt. He was predeceased by his first wife, Kathleen (McLean) Hunt and by his brother, Frederick R. Hunt, Jr. A graveside service will be private. A memorial service will be held at the church Pete attended for many years, the Flanders Baptist Church, on Monday, November 24, at 11 a.m. Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home in Niantic is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Flanders Baptist Church or to the charity of the donor's choice.