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In Memory

Jon Hunt - Class Of 1961 VIEW PROFILE

Jon Hunt

 

February 25, 2003

 

S.B. development official dies at 60

Mayor: Jon Hunt 'has a big place in our hearts.'

By HEIDI PRESCOTT
Tribune Staff Writer 

 

SOUTH BEND -- It was not often that Jon Hunt took center stage.
Instead, he usually worked seven days a week behind the scenes for the city of South Bend on projects -- too many to list -- to enrich the hometown he loved.

On Saturday, the 60-year-old Hunt, longtime director of the Department of Community and Economic Development, died at Hospice of St. Joseph County after a brief illness.

He is survived by a sister and three brothers.

His death will leave an empty seat on a Transpo bus, his usual ride to work in the morning, and in the cars of many colleagues who still gave Hunt a lift home at night just a couple of weeks ago.

He also owned a couple of bicycles.

Knowing he was a private person, no one asked why Hunt didn't drive.

"Everyone here knew where Jon lived," said Ann Kolata, a former redevelopment director. "It was an opportunity for him to talk about projects. But he was also a lot of fun. It wasn't unusual for him to throw a Nerf ball at somebody. I think he was a lot sicker than anybody knew."

Hunt had a hand in projects across the city.

"I can't think of anyone who left their mark on the community as much as Jon Hunt has," said South Bend Mayor Stephen J. Luecke.

Hunt worked on high-visibility projects such as bringing in TJX Cos. to build a warehouse and distribution center and retaining Bosch Braking Systems Corp. when South Bend was in danger of losing it, Luecke said.

He helped Environmental Health Laboratories, Memorial Hospital and Crowe, Chizek and Co. expand.

"He was happiest when no one knew he was around,'' said Lt. Gov. Joseph E. Kernan, the former mayor who worked with Hunt for nearly a decade. "It was never about him. It was always about South Bend.''

Kernan said Hunt's signature is on every economic development project undertaken in the city during the last two decades.

"All of us who call South Bend home owe him our gratitude for his great service,'' Kernan said.

His mark, said business associate and friend Ted Foti, is everywhere in the community.

"He had a great sense of humor, a cherubic smile and a belly laugh that was infectious," said Foti, vice president for corporate development at Memorial Hospital. "To Jon it wasn't a job, it was a calling. He strongly believed that if you set your mind to it, you could always get it done."

Hunt also devoted an enormous amount of time to South Bend neighborhoods, especially the West Washington area and the southeast-side redevelopment project, , Luecke said.

In 1993, he received the Ivan H. Brinegar Municipal Management Award from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns for being instrumental in many economic development projects.

Four years later, he received the Henry Ferrettie award from Indiana University South Bend's School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the IUSB chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, for exemplifying the highest standards of excellence in public service.

"He leaves a big void here. He has a big place in our hearts. He was at work two weeks ago today," Luecke said. "It has been very quick and difficult for people to accept."

People like Kolata.

"I don't want to start crying again ... but I think the biggest loss aside from losing a really, really good friend is that the city lost someone who was dedicated to the betterment of the city, and was creative. And he was a mentor to I can't tell you how many people.

"I don't think South Bend knows what it lost," Kolata said.

Hunt graduated from John Adams High School and received his bachelor's degree in 1966 and his master's degree in 1967 from Valparaiso University. He did post-graduate work at the University of Notre Dame.

"We had our own kidding routine. I'd kid him about going to Valparaiso, and he'd have bad things to say about Purdue," said John Schalliol, South Bend Regional Airport director. "We'd go back and forth about it even at public meetings. Oh, you know, I'm really going to miss him, professionally and personally."

Hunt entered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1968, serving in the 36th Engineers combat unit at the demilitarized zone along the South Korea-North Korea border.

He joined the city's community development department in October 1975 as an entry-level urban planner. He was named deputy community development director in 1977, and two years later became community development director.

He also was an assistant to former Mayor Roger O. Parent in addition to Kernan in the early 1980s. In May 1982, Hunt became director of what is now the Department of Community and Economic Development and devoted most of his time to the job.

"I'd get voice-mails at 4:30 in the morning," Kolata said.

"I'd call him on Saturday or Sunday and knew I could always get him at work," said John Phair, president of Holladay Property Services Midwest in South Bend. He worked with Hunt on a number of downtown and riverfront projects through the years.

"His heart was always in the right place," Phair said. "He never was looking for anything but the right thing for the city. You couldn't help but respect that."



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