Daniel Hunt

Captain Daniel Hunt, 94, U. S. Navy Retired, husband, father, WWII veteran, golfer, sailor, with a life-long public service career, passed away peacefully at home on January 11 surrounded by family and caregivers, of natural causes. Dan spoke fondly of his 25 year marriage with Shirley Hampton Hunt and of his many children and step-children at his home in Chestertown, on the Easter Shore of Maryland. He was a loving person and consummate gentleman, who always met family and friends with a cheerful greeting. Dan was active and engaged in the community as a volunteer at the Chestertown Hospital, Lions Club, and Wall Street Wizards. Dan enjoyed his walks to Scottie's to pick up his daily newspaper and banter in Tagalog with his friend Bob Bennett. He was fond of Louisa's Restaurant and chocolate shakes from the Freeze. Dan's public service included participated in the N.I.H. Longitudinal Study of Aging, and he continued to be interested and curious with new technology. Dan was born in San Francisco on November 17th, 1920, the son of Rear Admiral Daniel Hunt, M.D. and Dorothy Chandler Hunt. Although Dan wanted to be a doctor like his father, he joined the Naval Academy in 1940 during WWII, and he followed an accelerated course of study in engineering, graduating in only three years, so he could join the forces in the Pacific Campaign. He was stationed as an officer aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga (CV3) within the Pacific Theater of Operations. After operations in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, on February 1945 five "Kamikaze" suicide planes struck the Saratoga off Iwo Jima. 123 of her crew were dead or missing as a result of the attacks. The carrier survived the attack and returned to later service. After his time at sea, Dan went on to earn his Master's Degree in metallurgy engineering at Carnegie in 1955. He continued with military duty with the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships in Washington DC leading the Metals Fabrication Branch for submarines. He retired from the Navy in 1965 and became the National Science Foundation's Project Manager for the construction of the Mayall 4-meter telescope building in Kitt Peak, AZ and he participated in the construction of the radiotelescope observatory in Puerto Rico. As Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation, Dan supervised the Deep Sea Drilling Project to reach the Moholrovicic ("Moho") Discontinuity, which is the border between the brittle earth's outer crust and the hotter softer mantle. Dan shared his long life with wives: Patricia Ann; Muriel Simpson; Eleanor Clark. In 1989 he married and is survived by his loving wife Shirley Hampton. The couple's many children and step-children were very close to him and had a loving relationship. He is survived by his Children: Alexandra Hunt of Center Sandwich, NH Christopher Hunt of Northfield, NH Holland Hunt of Avon Lake, OH Daniel Braine of Easton, CT And his Step-children: Elaine Clark of Bradenton, FL, Guy Leavitt, Jr. of Ijamesville, MD Stephanie Gosman of Chestertown, MD Winnie Carpenter of Ellicott City, MD Larimore Hampton of New York City, NY Jennifer Engel of Baltimore, MD, Wade Wilson of Baltimore, MD, And Grandchildren: Jairus McQuaid-Hunt of Charlottesville, VA, Amelia Craven (nee McQuaid Hunt) of Hermon, ME Noah Reveley-Hunt of Antioch College, OH, Jay Clark of Los Angeles, CA, Sarah Clark of Bradenton, FL. Golf was Dan's passion. The Naval Academy was the birth place of his perfect swing, but he continued to enjoy the game throughout his life. Dan rose from the Captain of the U.S. Naval Academy golf team, photographed in the presence of pro golfers Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen in 1942, to winning the club championships at the Army Navy Country Club and Chester River Yacht and Country Club. Dan had vitality for life, like no other, and his smile lit up a room. He was a kind and generous man and a wonderful husband and father. Please join Shirley and Dan's family on Saturday, January 17 from noon to 3 P.M. to celebrate Dan's life at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home at 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, Maryland 21620. Food and drink will be provided. A private interment will occur on Sunday for Dan's family. In lieu of flowers, you may make a charitable gift in the memory of Daniel Hunt, Class of 1943, to the Naval Academy Annual Fund, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402 or www.usna.com.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fhnfuneralhome.com.