William Hunter

William Nicholas Hunter (Avtges)

(Age 89)

On Saturday, January 11, 2025, of Bethesda, MD, Dr. Hunter, beloved husband of Roula Hunter, father of Nicholas (Julie) Hunter, William (Karen) Hunter, and Marie Hunter (Sean) Frazier, and grandfather of William, Kathleen, and Alexandra (Johun), William "Dean" and Thomas "Kurt," and Anastasia and Aleka, peacefully passed away. His first great-grandson, William, is expected in June.

A selfless man always looking for ways to give to others, Dr. William Nicholas Hunter positively impacted generations of people, always wearing a smile on his face. He accomplished his goal of ensuring that his children and grandchildren always received the best advice, support, and most unconditional love.

Dr. Hunter worked in government, healthcare, management training, and held several professorial roles at a variety of universities, spanning decades and disciplines. After his tenure as Procurement Advisor to the Senate Armed Services committee, Dr. Hunter founded multiple separate and distinct organizations which emphasized his entrepreneurial spirit. The breadth and depth of these organizations included a management consulting firm, a healthcare firm, and a management training firm. He was an adjunct professor at American University, Indiana University, Purdue University, University of Maryland, University of Virginia and the University of West Florida. Dr. Hunter also enjoyed being a charter member of the Senior Executive Service and a member of the Board of Advisors for the Defense Systems Management College and the National Contract Management Association.

He married Roula Dovinos on August 23, 1959. Together, they had three children and spent 66 years together. Roula was a steadfast partner in both his professional and philanthropic endeavors, supporting him until his passing. Their long-lasting marriage is a testament to the values and love that they shared. Dr. Hunter often told his family that Roula was the reason he kept seeking education and pursuing the best life for his family.

The son of Nicholas Avtges, a successful real estate and banking businessman, and of Irene Avtges his loving mother, Dr. Hunter was born in Boston, MA. He grew up in the nearby community of Watertown, MA, where he attended public schools before enrolling at Babson College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration at the University of Hartford, followed by a Master of Science degree at the Naval Postgraduate School. Dr. Hunter then achieved his PhD in Operations Research.

In 1961, Dr. Hunter joined Honeywell Corporation in Groton, CT, and, over the following years, he transitioned into a Department of Defense (DoD) procurement professional. Early in his civil service career, he served as an authorized Contracting Officer, Program Manager, and Contract Clearance Official for the Department of the Navy. In 1969, Dr. Hunter was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School, where he taught Procurement and earned two additional degrees. He had a natural passion for teaching, and at the beginning of each semester, he would grant each of his students an A and tell them it was up to their own merit to keep it.

In 1972, he was selected as a civilian to manage, operate, and coordinate the Naval Ship and Repair Command for the 6th Fleet in Athens, Greece. During his time in Greece, Dr. Hunter was bestowed the rank of Commodore, enabling him to handle political and military matters on behalf of the United States government.

After his overseas assignment, Dr. Hunter returned to serve as a Procurement Advisor in Procurement Policy for the United States Senate Armed Services Committee. He also held prominent positions as Associate Administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and Director of the White House's Federal Acquisition Institute. Widely respected as an authority on government contracting, Dr. Hunter was a noted lecturer, educator, and author.

He played a key role in assisting the Senate Armed Services Committee with major defense procurement legislation, including the Defense Procurement Improvement Act of 1985, the Defense Acquisition Enterprise and Initiative Act of 1986, and the Defense Reorganization and Improvement Act of 1986.

Following his career in the federal government, Dr. Hunter founded a management consulting firm that helped businesses navigate the federal marketplace and engage with the highest levels of government. He also established a healthcare company that provided services to hundreds of thousands of families across the United States. At the same time, he developed a management training systems association and continued his work as an adjunct professor.

In 1991, Dr. Hunter became Chairman of the American Hellenic Institute, an affiliation he held dear. He took great pride in his role, as it allowed him to connect with Greek Americans across the country and strengthen the Hellenic cultural heritage.

Dr. Hunter loved and deeply appreciated his Greek Orthodox faith. His connection to the church began with his parents. He grew up in the church, serving as an altar boy and chanting hymns. Throughout his travels in later years, no matter what country he visited, his first stop was always an Orthodox church. In 1995, he received an investiture as Archon Hartoularios, bestowed upon him by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Constantinople. Dr. Hunter was also a dedicated member of Leadership 100 and AHEPA. He served on numerous parish councils, boards, and fundraising committees, and acted as a special projects emissary for Greek Orthodox bishops overseeing churches from Boston to Miami.

He was quoted as saying, "I express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to my mother and father, who raised and educated me to always be a good servant to our Church." Beyond his love for his wife, children, and grandchildren, his greatest joy was serving his fellow man, woman, or child in need.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, 7701 Bradley Boulevard, Bethesda, MD, on Friday, January 17, starting at 10 a.m., followed by the Funeral Service at 11 a.m. Available on livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktag_KRBsv8

Interment will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George https://stgeorge.org/