NICE GUY BILL HUNTER PASSES AWAY

 

Bill Hunter, 93, passed away Friday, March 4. He lived in New Franklin in southern Summit County.  Bill was born August 5, 1928.

Bill and the late Jean’s son, Steven, passed away in 2018 at the age of only 57. Widower Bill married Lucy Green Hunter. Other children and stepchildren were Sue Hays of Charlotte, North Carolina, Stacy Hunter Ticoras of Warren, Ohio, Carol Caldwell, Dave Green and Dan Green.

Bill made his points quietly, like the gentleman he was.

Retired BJ artist Art Krummel “loved going out to his house on the lake to see 4th of July fireworks.”

Retired BJ Reference Librarian echoed Art’s thoughts about Hunters lake: “I would see Bill & Lucy out and about the (Portage) lakes, always smiling and always happy to see and TALK to you. Bill, you were a good friend.”

Former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen, the man Phoenix native who took his Roy Hobbs seniors baseball tournament from Akron, after 29 years there under Tom’s founding and supervision, to Fort Myers in 1993, called Bill “a consummate professional who protected his staff and worked hard to find solutions to the demands of editors and reporters. And always with a smile and an open door.”

Roy Hobbs World Series was in Orlando and bankrupt when Tom rescued it and moved it to Fort Myers. By the 20-teens Tom had built it up to 245 teams with 4,400 amateur players from 43 states and 6 foreign countries participating in more than 850 games on major league baseball quality fields for 30 days.  

Former BJ copy desk and other environs occupant Charles Montague, who aka was Chasm to those who worked with him for decades, recalled a situation that SO explains how Bill handled situations without yelling or punchouts:

Chasm posted:

“Bill Hunter was a soft-spoken guy, but a long time ago when tempers were high at the Cuyahoga Falls School Board offices on first day of the first ever teacher strike, Bill started shooting and I took notes when this real loudmouth guy walked up and shouted: ‘What gives you the right to take my picture?’

“Bill softly said: ‘This is a public street you’re on.’ The guy replied, ‘I think I’d like to take that effing camera from you and knock your ass out.’ Stlll softly, Bill said ‘What you do is your choice. But if you assault me I — and the Beacon Journal will back me up — will make sure you are dealt with on criminal charges and I will sue you and take your house and car.’

“ ‘What’s your name?,’ I asked. ‘FU,’ he said. ‘No matter,’ I said. ‘One of those board folks looking at you with binoculars will tell me.’

“At that point, a really big guy came over and pulled the jerk away. Big guy looked over and said, ‘Hi, Bill.’ ‘He’s a coach, Bill told me.’ “

Former BJ sportswriter Ed Meyer noted, “He always treated me with respect.”

Cheryl Scott Sheinin, who with husband Neil Sheinin were bowling superstars among BJ folks (and Cheryl in golf, too), Susan Gippin, former BJ chief librarian Cathy Tierney and my former Features Department co-worker Betsy Lammerding when I was Television Editor sounded like an echo chamber:

Cheryl: “Really nice guy.” Susan: “Such a nice guy.” Cathy: “Good, kind man.” Betsy: “You were a good man.”

Sharon Lorentzen, the Farkle who put the sparkle in the BJ newsroom: “He was kind, funny, smiling and patient.”

Gloria Irwin added: “A very long life well-lived.” Tim Smith, once in BJ management: “Great guy and a fine shooter” with his camera.

Let me repeat myself: “Bill made his points quietly, like the gentleman he was. “

It’s unanimous. Proof that you don’t have to be loud and menacing to be an effective manager.

Bill’s obituary:

Bill Hunter, 93, passed away on March 4, 2022, his loving wife Lucy by his side. He was born in Akron on August 5, 1928, to the late E.J. and Flonnie Hunter.  A 1946 graduate of North High School, Bill attended Kent State University.  In 1950 he was drafted into the Army, serving with an engineering unit that surveyed and made maps of the German countryside through 1952.  After his honorable discharge, he was promptly hired by the Akron Beacon Journal as a staff photographer, later promoted to head the department as Chief Photographer at the height of this newspaper’s journalistic heyday, retiring in 1993 after 41 years.

 

Bill moved to the Portage Lakes in 1958 and has resided on the east shore of Turkeyfoot Lake ever since, eventually becoming its elder statesman, default historian and expert on its ecology (even if he would have modestly protested those titles). It was here he developed a passion for restoring and maintaining antique wooden boats, which led to active and rewarding membership in the North Coast Ohio Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society, winning many awards over the years for his impeccable workmanship. That fine eye for detail and craftsmanship translated as well to his woodshop, where he was known to while away the hours “making sawdust.” He enjoyed membership in both the Turkeyfoot Island Club and Sportsman’s Club. On temperate evenings, friends knew to find him with a drink on his front deck, admiring the spectacular sunsets.

 

He married Jean Hagenbush on August 22, 1959, and they raised three children over 38 years filled with love and laughter and the warm conviviality of many dear friends, before her death in 1997.

 

Love returned when Lucy Green came into his life, and they married on June 29, 2001. She took on the role of affectionate matriarch and “Grandma,” warmly gathering their collective families together monthly. They enjoyed over 20 loving and affectionate years together.

An avid reader, Bill was admired by so many for his often encyclopedic, deep well of knowledge in subjects ranging from aviation to WWII, and seemingly everything in between, from nature and ecology to sociology and politics. He held a deep curiosity for all things and maintained a keen sense of humor. He remained steadfastly proud of his children and grandchildren for accomplishments great and small.

 

Besides his parents and his first wife, Jean, Bill was preceded in death by his son, Steve Hunter, and sisters, Betty Lou (George) Quillin, Nancy Lee (Jerry) Hurd, and Shirley (Richard) Drew. He is survived by his wife, Lucy Hunter; daughters, Sue (Ron) Hays and Stacy (George Ticoras) Hunter; stepdaughter, Carol (Brian) Caldwell; stepsons, Dave (Cindy) and Dan Green; sister, Karen (Lou) Leo; his adoring grandchildren, Brandon Hunter, Zachariah (Olga) Hays, Jacob (Andriana) Hays, Katina Ticoras; stepgrandchildren, Jacqueline Diamond, Daniel Green, Cristin Caldwell, and Matthew Smith; step-greatgrandchildren, Aleena and Tom Diamond, Kaiden Huffman, George and Penelope Green; sisters-in-law, Sarah Hagenbush and Lorraine Fox; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and countless friends, all of whom will miss him dearly.

 

Friends and family may visit from 4 - 7 P.M. on Friday, March 11, 2022, at Schermesser Funeral Home, 600 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, Ohio 44319 (SR 619).  A memorial service will follow at 7 P.M. with Pastor Brett Faris officiating.  Memorial contributions can be made in Bill’s name to Turkeyfoot Sportsman Club Ladies Auxiliary, 4551 Dusty’s Road, Akron, Ohio 44319, note scholarship fund on the memo line, or to VeloSano, Cleveland Clinic's Cancer Research Initiative, 9500 Euclid Avenue DV, Cleveland, Ohio 44195.  To leave a special message online for the family, visit our website at www.schermesserfh.com .

 

SCHERMESSER
(330) 899-9107
www.schermesserfh.com

Memorial Contributions:

Turkeyfoot Sportsman Club Ladies Auxiliary
4551 Dusty’s Road
Akron, Ohio 44319 
note scholarship fund on the memo line  

 

OR 

 

VeloSano   
Cleveland Clinic's Cancer Research Initiative 
9500 Euclid Avenue DV 
Cleveland, Ohio 44195