HUNT TURNER COLLINS

HUNT TURNER COLLINS BURLINGTON/DARIEN, CONN. - 1st Lt. Hunt Turner Collins died Nov. 6, 2009. Hunt was born in New York City on June 4, 1931. He was the youngest son of Frederick Arthur Collins Sr. and Delphine Turner Heyl Collins. He attended school in Darien, Conn. and Kent School in Kent, Conn., and completed two years at Harvard prior to joining the Air Force to be trained as a pilot. On Oct. 22, 1954, Hunt married Elizabeth (Betsy) Starr Cushman Collins while stationed in England. Together they had four children. While in the Air Force, Hunt flew the F-84 Thunderjet and F-86 Sabre jet in the 92nd Squadron until a near fatal plane accident in England, for which he spent a year recovering, led to an honorable discharge. After returning to the U.S., Hunt began working in New York City for Diesel Construction Company. Within a few years, Hunt started his own construction company which led to his life long career in real estate development. His particular interest was in the renovation and preservation of old and historic buildings. Hunt also ventured into the restaurant business where he built, owned, and operated "The Red Baron" restaurant on the corner of 69th Street and Columbus Avenue in New York City and "Sneakers" restaurant in New Canaan, Conn. In addition, Hunt and Betsy built a summer home on Mallets Bay in Colchester. In the early 1980's, Hunt joined his brother Arthur's development firm and together they spent eight years renovating the waterfront in South Norwalk, Conn. Hunt loved spending time with his family on Lake Champlain and eventually moved to Colchester fulltime where he continued his restoration of old buildings in downtown Burlington. His largest renovation was a beautiful brownstone building next to the YMCA on College Street that had previously housed the Visiting Nurse Association. On Feb. 14, 1990, Hunt married Alice Angel Quinter. Together, they had one daughter. Hunt was known for his athletic abilities and excelled in baseball, hockey, football, and squash. He was an avid wood worker and loved history and genealogy. During the last few years, Hunt attended history classes at the University of Vermont on a regular basis. One of his final and proudest accomplishments was writing his memoir about his experience in the Air Force and times spent growing up with his brother, Arthur. Hunt was predeceased in death by his father Frederick Arthur Collins Sr., his mother, Delphine Turner Heyl Collins; his brother Frederick Arthur Collins, and his infant son, Hunt Collins, Jr. He is survived by his exwife Elizabeth Starr Cushman Collins and daughter, Caroline Heath Collins and her husband, Bruce Dennis Collins; son, Charles Alden Collins and Rebecca Louise Stearns and their daughter, Elizabeth Molly Collins; daughter, Elizabeth Hunt Collins and her husband Andres Aslan and their two children, Olivia Caroline Aslan and Stewart Alden Aslan; and his youngest daughter, Eliza Turner Heyl Collins and ex-wife Angel Quinter Collins Means; his sister-in-law, Joan Collins and her children, Arthur Collins, Dwight Collins, Merrill Collins and their spouses and children. The family would like to acknowledge Dr. Peter Gunther for his many years of friendship and care giving to Hunt. Family and close friends will honor Hunt's life at a private gathering on Mallets Bay.