William A. HUNT

HUNT, William A.


William A. Hunt, 50, of Glastonbury, an 18-year veteran of the Hartford Fire Department and a beloved family member, died unexpectedly in Glastonbury on Friday, July 13. At the time of his death, Bill was working his dream job, living with the love of his life, fiancée Nancy Connell, only minutes from his oversize extended family. These were the best years of a life devoted to public safety and selflessly assisting people in need. Bill was born December 12, 1962, in Hartford, grew up in Wethersfield and graduated from South Catholic High School in Hartford, where he was a tight end on the football team. He attended the University of New Haven, but soon found his purpose in life while serving in the U.S. Navy from 1982 to 1987. Always a techie, he maintained communication, navigation and identification systems aboard A7E Corsair II and F/A-18 attack aircraft. Among his collateral duties after being deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, and serving aboard the USS Midway was being part of the firefighting team and in-port fire watch. By the time he returned home in the late 1980s, Bill was determined to become a firefighter. After several years with the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department, he joined HFD. He was last assigned to Engine Two, Tour A. Bill was an all-in kind of guy, a classic first-responder. He always volunteered for front-line duty: Aside from his official duties, he helped other firefighters in the 9/11 recovery efforts, paid his way to Haiti to help earthquake relief efforts in 2010 and twice traveled to Uganda with a mission to aid the Kampala Children's Centre, which houses, educates and cares for orphans. Those who knew Bill will tell you he'd do anything, any time, for them. They'd also tell you how this man who witnessed such horrific trauma also had a wicked sense of humor. He was a joker, a prankster and sometimes wiseguy. He thought it was hysterical when he commissioned the construction of a PVC potato launcher, fueled by hairspray and ignited by flame, that rocketed a spud 300 feet downfield. He once sent to family and friends a picture of himself wearing a hummingbird-feeder mask. He found great delight, even as an adult, in startling people. It surprised no one that he developed a quick, and close, kinship with his troublemaker cat, Coco. Aside from his fiancee' Nancy Connell of Glastonbury, Bill leaves his two daughters, who meant everything to him: Hannah Hunt of Palm Coast, Fla., and Hilary St. Amand of Wethersfield. He is also survived by his parents, Marcia Hunt of Wethersfield and Edward J. Hunt of Rocky Hill; stepmother Fay Hunt of Rocky Hill; sister Mary Ellen and husband John Dombrowski of Wethersfield; brother Kevin and wife Cheryl of Glastonbury; sister Kathleen and husband Jack Bluestein of Leesburg, Va.; and sister Lisa Bowman of Wethersfield. He also leaves many nieces and nephews: Matthew Noeker and his wife Danielle of Farmington; Jill DeLisa, her husband Justin and young son Jake, who gave Bill his final nickname, "Uncle Buzz"; Brittany Bowman and Brent Bowman of Wethersfield; Kristin Dombrowski of Nashville, Allison Dombrowski of New York and Johnny Dombrowski of New York. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as his second family - his brothers and sisters at the Hartford Fire Department. He has a big bear hug waiting for each of you. Bill's greatest achievement was each second, minute, hour, week and month of seven years of sobriety. It earned the everlasting admiration of his family. He was a hero to us in every part of his life. Go gcasfar le chéile sinn arís.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 18, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 140 Farmington Ave., Hartford. All are asked to go directly to the church. Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday, July 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Road in Wethersfield. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to The Hundred Club of Connecticut, 119 Oakwood Drive, PO Box 419, Glastonbury, CT 06033. The family also would like to thank Mayor Pedro E. Segarra, Hartford Fire Chief Edward Casares and the Hartford fire Department for their kindness. For more information or online condolences, please visit www.farleysullivan.com.