Frank Hutchins

Frank J. Hutchins Passed away peacefully at home on August 31, 2010. He was born on November 16, 1937 in Adamsville, AL. He came to San Francisco as an adolescent and graduated from Balboa High School. He served with the U.S. Army in Japan and was honorably discharged. He then worked for S.F. Municipal Railway where he was held in high esteem by passengers, coworkers and management, and later joined the S.F. Sheriffs Department. There he worked in the jails and served as a bailiff. He also worked in the Work Furlough Program, assisting inmates in their transition to life outside the Jail System. His compassion and nonjudgmental spirit inspired ex-inmates to seek a better life. From there he was appointed Community Relations Officer. In that capacity he was given the task of designing what is now known as the Sheriff's Eviction Assistance Program which was funded by a federal grant in the early 1980's. With a staff of Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), Frank found housing for the poor, the elderly, people with young children, and ill and/or handicapped people facing eviction. He soon built a network of service providers and key people in government agencies that could respond to every need of individuals in crisis. Over the next 20 years, Frank and his staff, a stalwart band of senior citizens, helped thousands of people in need. Frank retired from the Sheriff's Department after 43 years with the rank of Lieutenant. He was tirelessly active in the community. He was one of the founders and a past President of the Ocean Ingleside Lions Club and served on the Board of Directors of the Bernal Heights Community Center and various other Boards throughout S.F. He enjoyed walking the hills of Bernal Heights, delivering the Bernal Journal and conversing with neighbors. Frank's many interests included baseball. He loved the game and played for years in the semi-professional league as a highly accomplished pitcher. He also enjoyed Little Theater and appeared in numerous local productions under the stage name of Omar Frank. He was a member of AFTRA/SAG and was formerly registered with the Grimme Modeling Agency. Frank loved to dance, and dance he did, every Sunday evening at Velma's Blues Club. He is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Dorothy Kennedy Hutchins; two sisters, Lorene Fowler of Graysville, AL and Mary Luten of Aurora, CO; and one brother, Norman Hutchins of Oakland, CA. Last but not least, Frank is survived by one hundred & nine nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two daughters Tracy Lynn Hutchins and Kimberly Suzanne Hutchins; two sisters, Forresta Bryson of Mansfield, OH and Sara Washington of Adamsville, AL; and two brothers, Stanley Hutchins of Denver, CO & Elbert Dobbins of San Francisco, CA. Frank was loved by all who knew him and his loss is deeply mourned. Memorial service will be held Nov. 13th at the Irish American Cultural Center. Donations may be made in Frank's name to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave, Montgomery, AL, 36104.