Roche Funeral Home, Inc.
http://www.rochefuneralhome.com
Eugene (Gene) Murray Hunter, 92, mechanical engineer, power generation specialist, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor passed away of natural causes in Lenox, MA on April 28, 2023. Gene was known for his friendly, gentle nature, his generosity, loyalty and his quiet, steadfast strength - qualities which endeared him to all those who knew him.
Gene was born on April 2, 1931 in Schenectady, NY and grew up in Scotia, NY. He frequently reminisced about his idyllic, Daniel Boone-esque childhood, growing up along the Mohawk River, trapping and fishing, camping in the Adirondacks and hunting with his father in the Catskill mountains of NY. Gene was a graduate of Scotia High School and Lenox School for Boys where he completed a PG year. As a teenager, he was known as a bit of a prankster. Once, while driving the boat that was pulling a high school friend waterskiing, Gene jumped overboard feigning an accident. Unbeknownst to his skier, Gene had turned off the gas intake to the engine before jumping.
By the time Gene completed his PG year in Lenox, MA he was an avid alpine skier. In 1950, Gene entered the University of Vermont, he would say, as much to ski as to study engineering. Gene graduated from UVM in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. That same year he joined General Electric as a test engineer in Schenectady, NY and started what would become a 30 year career in power generation sales with the company. His charismatic, outgoing personality helped him excel in the sale of nuclear reactors, steam turbines and transformers.
Following a number of assignments in engineering and marketing in NY, CT, PA and MA, Gene became district manager for power generation sales for New England in 1968. In 1973, he was appointed manager of nuclear power generation. In 1978, Gene became the national headquarters sales manager for all turbine and nuclear products, and he became manager of marketing for the company's large transformer business division in Pittsfield, MA in 1982. Gene is the recipient of six General Electric awards, four of them managerial awards, and is the graduate of five General Electric technical and marketing training programs. Gene was an active member of the American Nuclear Society, Atomic Industrial Forum, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for which he was also the chairman of the Power Generation Committee.
After retiring from GE in 1985, Gene started SalesMark Inc., got his real estate license and sold real estate in the Berkshire area for a number of years. His real passion, however, was public service and donating his time to those who needed help. After passing a series of qualifying exams, he became an Emergency Medical Technician in 1987 and joined the Lenox Volunteer Ambulance Squad (LVAS). Gene's calm, unflappable demeanor made him an excellent EMT. For years he delivered babies and rescued people from all types of calamities, usually in the middle of the night. Gene then became president of the LVAS, which he ran for seventeen years. After stepping down from this position, Gene continued his passion for helping people becoming a volunteer with Hospice Care in the Berkshires, Inc. in 2012. He spent much of his last few years sitting along the bedsides of ailing strangers, comforting them and their loved ones.
Throughout his long life Gene had an abundance of hobbies and interests. Some of his favorite pastimes included road trips to his grandfather's house in Portsmouth NH, spending time with his family in his Adirondack camps in Bolton Landing and on Brant Lake, driving his boat on Lake George, taking his daughters waterskiing (he stayed in the boat when his daughters were skiing), alpine skiing with his daughters, salmon fishing on the Miramichi River in Canada, deer hunting with life-long friends and colleagues at his cherished hunting camp in Schoharie, NY, bird hunting in ME and enjoying a Jack Daniels on the rocks while listening to Johnny Cash.
Gene was married to the love of his life, Marilyn Dinardo, whom he met on a blind date, for 65 years until his death. Gene is survived by his sister, Patricia Beck of Wallingford, CT, daughters Debbie Hunter (Joe Porier) of Spring City, PA, Jennifer Hunter (Dr. Mark McKinlay) of Phoenixville, PA, grandchildren Dr. Danielle Porier (William Stone) of Springfield, VA, Hunter Porier of Brooklyn, NY, step grandchildren Dr. Michelle Monro (Jason Monro) of Blacklick OH, Andrew McKinlay of King of Prussia, PA and three step great grandchildren.
A memorial service to celebrate Gene's generosity, public service, and his professional contributions will be held in Lenox, MA in the fall of 2023. Contributions in his name can be made to the Lenox Volunteer Ambulance Squad, Lenox, MA.
To share memories and stories please visit rochefuneralhome.com
LINKS
The Berkshire Eagle
http://www.berkshireeagle.com
Memories
Gallery
Guestbook