BANGOR and HOLDEN – William E. Hunt Sr. died April 8, 2005, at a Bangor hospital. He was born May 18, 1924, in Burlington, the son of James Albert and Mabel Young Hunt. He was raised in Bangor, and after graduating from Bangor High School, attended Northeastern University. He joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific during World War II. After returning to Maine, he worked for his mother at Allen’s Grocery Store and in 1955, he opened Hunt’s IGA on Broadway in Bangor, which was open for 17 years. During the snowstorm of 1962, his was one of the only stores open in the city. He had to dig a tunnel from the store to the street. The Bangor Daily News quoted him as saying “It was quite a change to see sleds and toboggans lined up in front of the store instead of cars.” From 1967 to 1970, he sponsored Bangor’s semi-pro baseball team, the Bangor Merchants, made up of players from the University of Maine and other local players. The team traveled throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Canada. After he closed the IGA, he worked for the city of Bangor, directing busses for the school system and implementing the city’s public transportation system. He later served as the civil defense director for Penobscot County, preparing area leaders and law enforcement for disasters. He then worked for Hall’s Security for 11 years at Eastern Maine Medical Center and for five years at St. Joseph Hospital where, each Christmas season, he dressed up as Santa Claus to greet patients and visitors. More recently, he was employed at Wal-Mart in Brewer. In 1961, Mr. Hunt started the Bangor High School Booster Club and worked as a linesman for Bangor High football games for 20 years. He served on the Bangor City Council from 1965 to 1968, was a long-time member and past president of the Bangor Noontime Kiwanis Club. He was also a member and past president of the Saturday Nighters. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, William and Cheryl Hunt Jr. of Portland; his daughter, Michelle of Victorville, Calif.; his loving companion, Gertrude “Trudy” Stevens of Holden; and two granddaughters, Cassidy and Meredith of Portland. He was predeceased by his wife, Mabelle Hunt. Friend may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, with the Rev. Adam Soderberg, pastor of the East Orrington Congregational Church, officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor, following the service.
WILLIAM E. HUNT SR.
