John Hunter

John M. Hunter

 81, of Penn Yan, NY, passed away on August 10, 2024 after a long illness, supported by family in a serene setting on the shores of Keuka Lake, where he spent his final 16 years in peace and tranquility. 

An educator for 40 years, John was a fierce advocate for causes he felt passionate about, particularly social justice and food security. His professional and volunteer efforts reflected a dedication to living a life of service. 

John was born in Washington, Pa., on March 4, 1943 to Robert S., an immigrant from Broughty Ferry, Scotland who had served in the Royal Air Force, and Susan (Maxwell). The family moved several times during his youth, from Pennsylvania to Flushing, N.Y., then out to Boise, Idaho, and eventually back to Schenectady, N.Y. All the moves, plus the Scottish brogue he heard at home, gave John a unique combination of regional accents that he carried throughout his life. 

After graduating from Mont Pleasant High School in 1961 and Hudson Valley Community College in 1963, John earned an English degree from SUNY Albany in 1965 and embarked on a teaching career that took him from Washington County, N.Y., to the African nation of Zambia, then back to New York’s Dutchess County and, eventually, central New York. 

While in Africa from 1968-69 he worked at Nkumbi International College, teaching English to secondary and college students from around the world. After the term ended he returned home and began a long stint at John Jay High School in East Fishkill, N.Y., where he taught for a decade and a half. He was known for being tough but fair, and paid special attention to the most challenging students, whom he in turn challenged to exceed their own expectations. 

During the 1970s and 1980s John aligned with several organizations dedicated to making a difference in the world. He taught English to GED students at Green Haven Correctional Facility, a New York State maximum-security prison. He also worked with Project Upward Bound at both Marist and Bard Colleges as a member of their adjunct faculties, teaching college-level and college-prep courses to economically disadvantaged students. 

During these years John also volunteered with the Environmental Council, where he chaired a committee examining a Canadian electricity proposal and another studying a garbage-to-steam plan. These efforts required him to pore over details of a trash-burning facility in Poughkeepsie and a cement plant in Coxsackie — and to be a thorn in the side of powerful business interests, an activity that brought him great joy and for which he had considerable talent. 

John was also an early advocate for using mainframe and personal computers to assist in teaching students and to prepare them for careers outside the classroom. He won a 1984 Teacher of Excellence Award from the New York State English Council for his work in applying computers to English curricula. 

Around that time, John decided to go into school administration, gaining certification for school business administration from the SUNY College at New Paltz. After an internship at the Mahopac school district, John served as an assistant superintendent for business in the public school systems of Hastings, Greenwood Lake, Rome and Clinton before retiring in 1998. He then served as a substitute teacher for several years because he missed the kids. 

John’s life changed for the better in 1987 when he met Linda, whom he married on October 1, 1989. Their wedding song was “When I’m Sixty-Four,” and they more than fulfilled their bargain with each other, creating innumerable happy memories across a blended family of four sons and a dozen grandchildren. 

The couple began their marriage in Lagrangeville, N.Y., before moving to Rome, N.Y., in 1991. During the late 1990s and 2000s John volunteered at the Utica Rescue Mission Welcome Hall in Rome, helping the food insecure and tutoring young people in math and writing and introducing them to computers. In 2008 John and Linda moved to Penn Yan, where John continued his volunteer efforts with the Living Well, planning and cooking comfort-food meals once or twice a month to help people meet their food and housing needs. 

Through all of his professional and volunteer efforts, John tried to be an honest, upstanding citizen and, particularly later in life, a responsible Christian, serving on the vestry at both Zion Episcopal Church in Rome and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Penn Yan. 

John lived in Penn Yan for 16 years — his longest tenure in any home. He said Penn Yan and Keuka Lake were his happiest places on Earth. 

John is predeceased by his parents Robert and Susan (Maxwell) Hunter and his stepmother Muriel (Stewart). John is survived by his wife Linda (Pike), his sister Jean L. (E. Herbert Jr.) White, his brother-in-law Rev. Thomas F. Pike (Lys McLaughlin), his blended family of children — Robert (Stacey Ryczak) Hunter, David (Jeanne Chon) Thomas, Andrew (Brennan Kearney) Thomas, and Bradley (Pamela Maki) Thomas — 12 grandchildren (Evan and Russell Hunter; Emily, Owen and Ruth Thomas; Ethan, Gavin and Willem Thomas; Samuel and Elizabeth Thomas; and McCready and Hallman Kearney), niece Susan A. White, nephew E. Herbert White III (Louise Cath) and grandnieces Rosalie and Katelyn. 

 A memorial service and celebration of John’s life will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on October 19 at 11a.m. 

John’s family wishes to thank Karen from Ontario/Yates Hospice and the staff and volunteers at Keuka Comfort Care Home for making John’s last days the best they could be for both John and his family. In addition, they would like to thank the University of Rochester Medical Center Cardiac Group and the Heart Failure and Transplant Group for extending John’s quality of life. Weldon Funeral Home of Penn Yan is assisting the family.