FORT FAIRFIELD and CROSS LAKE – Peter Grant Hunt Sr., 63, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, passed away unexpectedly June 28, 2007. Peter was a successful entrepreneur whose business ventures spanned many decades and disciplines. A 1961 graduate of Fort Fairfield High School and a business and marketing major at the University of Cincinnati, Peter began a career in sales as a representative for Kraft Foods in 1963. He followed his mentor, Robert McGee, into the insurance business in 1965 and soon became vice president of H.O. Perry & Son, Co., Fort Fairfield. As his insurance career burgeoned, so did his unique talent for creating insurance organizations designed to bring the best the industry had to offer to insurance consumers. In 1976, he brought together independent insurance agencies and insurance professionals from northern and southern Maine to form the United Insurance Group, UIG, where he served as chairman and CEO, until his “retirement” in 1995. He soon came out of retirement to form U.V., Inc., a commercial insurance agency and to consult with many insurance companies and agencies within the Maine marketplace. Throughout his impressive insurance career, Peter served on many insurance advisory boards, including positions for Commercial Union, Acadia, Hanover and Maine Mutual Insurance Co. He served as national chairman of Hartford Insurance Co. Jonathan Trumball Council and chairman of North East Insurance Co. agents’ advisory board. He also served on the board of directors for Patriot Mutual Insurance Co., and Patriot Mutual Life Insurance Co., and was instrumental in the establishment of Patriot Mutual as a personal lines insurer. Peter’s life long love and commitment to Aroostook County and its people was evidenced by his service of the board of directors for Northern Maine Community College and Patriot Mutual Education Foundation, Investors Council member for Aroostook Partners for Progress and as chairman of Community General Hospital, Fort Fairfield, Fort Fairfield Housing Authority and Fort Fairfield Community Development Board. He was a trustee for Unity College, a member of the Lions Club, was a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner and national director of Jaycees. Ten years ago, he started yet another career as owner and president of the Harry’s family of businesses, which includes Top of Maine Insurance Co., Harry’s Honda and Harry’s Motor Sports, Presque Isle, as well as Harry’s Sales and Service, Caribou. As impressive as his professional accomplishments were, Peter was even more successful as a devoted husband, family man and friend. He loved the outdoors, hunting and golf, and he shared those loves with his family and fri-ends and dogs, Zach and Brit, spending many hours of enjoyment at his camps on Cross Lake and Big Machias Lake. Peter is survived by his beloved wife, Jane (Holt) Hunt of Fort Fairfield and Cross Lake; his sons, Peter G. Hunt Jr. and Robert V. Hunt of Fort Fairfield; his daughters, Melony (Hunt) LeShane of Fort Fairfield and Jennifer Hunt-MacLearn of North Yarmouth; his sons-in-law, Edward R. LeShane and Russell G. MacLearn; and his beautiful grandchildren, Shaina Lee McKenney and Alexander Grant LeShane; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Vicky Hunt of Memphis, Tenn., and Philip and Sue Hunt of Charleston, R.I.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Jacquelyn and Richard Mancib of Naples, Fla., and Marilyn and Donald Alexio of Portland, Ore. Mr. Hunt was predeceased by his parents, Grant A. and Pauline A. (Dupero) Hunt; and one brother, Franklyn “Champ” Hunt. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Monday, July 2, at Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main St., Fort Fairfield. Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, at United Parish Church, 4 Church St., Fort Fairfield, with the Rev. Diane Langworthy officiating. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Fort Fairfield, with a celebration of Peter’s life to be held at the Aroostook Valley Country Club, Fort Fair-field, immediately after the interment service. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contri-bute in memory of Mr. Hunt to the Peter G. Hunt Sr. Scholarship Fund, care of United Insurance Group, 202 U.S. Route 1, Box 360, Falmouth, ME, 04105.
PETER GRANT HUNT SR.
