Obituary

Deane L. Hutchins

Thu, 07/11/2019 - 8:00am

Deane Lawrence Hutchins, M.D., 94, passed away July 8, 2019, at home in Camden, Maine, surrounded by his family. He was the son of Harold and Hazel Hutchins from Kingfield, Maine. He married Virginia Bradstreet of Albion nearly 70 years ago.

After graduating from Stanley High School in Kingfield and Hebron Academy, Deane dedicated his life to public service. Beginning with his service in the Navy, he served at Iwo Jima and Okinawa during World War II. Afterwards he attended the University of Maine in Orono and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York, where he became a physician.

Dr. Hutchins had his own practice in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and later provided medical care at the Student Health Center at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine. Deane then joined the initial Worldwide Smallpox Eradication Program in West Africa. As an epidemiologist for CDC, he was Chief of Party in Northern Nigeria and again in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Following this Dr. Hutchins served as Medical Officer with the U. S. Department of State in Nigeria, Kuwait, Yugoslavia, Washington, D.C., Burma and Germany.

Dr. Hutchins served on the board of the Regional Medical Center in Lubec, Maine. He was a dedicated founding member of the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association, actively restoring the lightkeeper’s house and creating a visitor center and museum. Additional pastimes included silversmithing, woodworking, gardening, taking walks and keeping up with the ever-changing computer world.

Deane is survived by his wife, Virginia; four daughters, Jean Hutchins of Camden, Maine, Sally Merrifield of Duxbury, Vermont, Nancy Libbey of Littleton, North Carolina, and Becky Hutchins of Auburn, Maine, and also “Daughter #5” Marti Stone of Rockport, Maine. He is also survived by two sons-in-law, Roger Rittmaster and Tom Libbey; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; his sister Martha Schelling of Naples, Florida; his brother Clement Hutchins of Londonderry, New Hampshire; and a son-in-law, Tom Merrifield of Duxbury, Vermont.

Family and friends are invited to a Drop-in Celebration on Aug. 10, from 1-3 p.m. at Quarry Hill’s Anderson Inn, 30 Community Drive, Camden, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association in his honor.