Peter Grant Hunt, Sr.

Hunt, Peter G., Sr., 63, of Fort Fairfield & Cross Lake died Thursday, June 28, 2007. Arrangements are in the care of Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, Fort Fairfield.    
Fort Fairfield & Cross Lake – Peter Grant Hunt, Sr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, passed away unexpectedly on June 28, 2007, at the age of 63.
    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, Company in 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 Company. He served as National Chairman of Hartford Insurance Company’s Jonathan Trumball Council and Chairman of North East Insurance Company’s Agents’ Advisory Board. He also served on the Board of Directors for Patriot Mutual Insurance Company and Patriot Mutual Life Insurance Company and was instrumental in the establishment of Patriot Mutual as a personal lines insurer. Peter’s lifelong 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 in 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 Company, Harry’s Honda and Harry’s Motor Sports in Presque Isle, as well as Harry’s Sales and Service in 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 friends, 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, TN, Philip and Sue Hunt of Charleston, RI; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Jacquelyn and Richard Mancib of Naples, FL, Marilyn and Donald Alexio of Portland, OR; Mr. Hunt was  predeceased by his parents, Grant A. and Pauline A. (Durepo) Hunt and one brother, Franklyn “Champ” Hunt.
     Friends called 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Monday, July 2, 2007 at the Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home, 144 Main Street, Fort Fairfield. Funeral services were conducted at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 3, 2007 at the United Parish Church, 4 Church Street, Fort Fairfield with the Rev. Diane Langworthy officiating. Interment at Riverside Cemetery, Fort Fairfield with a celebration of Peter’s life held at the Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield, immediately following the interment service. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may contribute in memory of Mr. Hunt to the Peter G. Hunt, Sr. Scholarship Fund, c/o United Insurance Group, 202 U.S. Route 1, Box 360, Falmouth, ME, 04105.