Obituary for Jacque Lee Hutchins
Jacque Lee Hutchins, Lt. USNR, Ret., was born in Baltimore, Maryland on March 16, 1921, the only child of the late Thomas Stilson Hutchins and the late Alice (Kain) Hutchins Hauck Adams. Jacque is survived by his loving wife, Laurel (Davis) McAdams, who was his life partner for 42 years. He is the father of Leland Michael (Pam) Hutchins of Anacortes, Washington; Jeane Hutchins (Bob McQueen) of Ft. Collins, Colorado; Holly Hutchins of Annapolis, Maryland; and Ginna Valentine of Naples, Florida. He is the stepfather of Christine McAdams of Pittsburgh and Bruce (Gretchen) McAdams of Sewickley. Jacque is the grandfather of seven and great-grandfather of five.
A wonderful 100-year journey in life for Jacque came to a peaceful end in the early hours of September 1, 2021. He was known as a man of few words, but those few words were always filled with quick wit, uncanny insight, and delightful charm. He was a compassionate, gentle and modest man, often known as “Gentleman Jacque.”
His journey began in Baltimore, Maryland and progressed to graduation from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in February 1939 when he was 17 years old. With few appealing job prospects after high school at the time, Jacque and a school chum decided to enlist in the United States Navy. They reported together for training in April 1939, by which time Jacque had turned 18.
Jacque served as a gunner’s mate on combat ships in both Pacific and Atlantic theaters until he was selected for the Navy College Training Program (V-12) in 1943. He earned an electrical engineering degree from Georgia Tech, during which time he was inducted into the EE honor society, Eta Kappa Nu.
After six and half years of active duty, Jacque became a commissioned officer in the Naval Reserves, engaged in active training activities. His final assignment was Officer-in-Charge of the Reserve Intelligence Unit in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1965 Lieutenant Hutchins retired after a total of more than twenty years of service in the United States Navy.
At the time of Jacque’s 100th birthday in March 2021, he was the only known living shipmate of the USS Sterett DD407, the vessel he served on the longest. He often said that his early naval service was especially meaningful because that was when a teen learned to grow up and become a man.
Jacque’s entire work career was with Westinghouse Electric Corporation, beginning in 1946 with college recruiting after he graduated from Georgia Tech. His thirty-four plus year Westinghouse career took him to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Connecticut and then back to Pittsburgh, engaged primarily in plant relations, human resources and training before he retired in 1981.
Retirement years were filled with leisure travel, most always with a connection to the sea. If he and wife Laurel weren't cruising, they were touring naval vessels and military museums. Jacque was also a life-long learner and an avid reader of all things science, math, philosophy and history. As mobility and vision failed later in life, Jacque became very reliant on the National Library Service's audio book program for people with vision disabilities.
Military history was a particular favorite and in fact the week before his death, he was “rereading” the book Operation Drumbeat and said “I know what really happened, I was there.”
Jacque never lost his mental sharpness, even on his final day, and his wisdom and humor will be sorely missed.
Family and friends are invited to gather at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021 at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies at 1158 Morgan Road in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania for military honors. The family requests any honorariums be contributed to the National Museum of the US Navy in Washington DC or to a veteran’s support group of the donor's choice.
Arrangements by BEINHAUERS, Dormont, 412 531-4000. Please view or add tributes at www.beinhauer.com.
A wonderful 100-year journey in life for Jacque came to a peaceful end in the early hours of September 1, 2021. He was known as a man of few words, but those few words were always filled with quick wit, uncanny insight, and delightful charm. He was a compassionate, gentle and modest man, often known as “Gentleman Jacque.”
His journey began in Baltimore, Maryland and progressed to graduation from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in February 1939 when he was 17 years old. With few appealing job prospects after high school at the time, Jacque and a school chum decided to enlist in the United States Navy. They reported together for training in April 1939, by which time Jacque had turned 18.
Jacque served as a gunner’s mate on combat ships in both Pacific and Atlantic theaters until he was selected for the Navy College Training Program (V-12) in 1943. He earned an electrical engineering degree from Georgia Tech, during which time he was inducted into the EE honor society, Eta Kappa Nu.
After six and half years of active duty, Jacque became a commissioned officer in the Naval Reserves, engaged in active training activities. His final assignment was Officer-in-Charge of the Reserve Intelligence Unit in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1965 Lieutenant Hutchins retired after a total of more than twenty years of service in the United States Navy.
At the time of Jacque’s 100th birthday in March 2021, he was the only known living shipmate of the USS Sterett DD407, the vessel he served on the longest. He often said that his early naval service was especially meaningful because that was when a teen learned to grow up and become a man.
Jacque’s entire work career was with Westinghouse Electric Corporation, beginning in 1946 with college recruiting after he graduated from Georgia Tech. His thirty-four plus year Westinghouse career took him to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Connecticut and then back to Pittsburgh, engaged primarily in plant relations, human resources and training before he retired in 1981.
Retirement years were filled with leisure travel, most always with a connection to the sea. If he and wife Laurel weren't cruising, they were touring naval vessels and military museums. Jacque was also a life-long learner and an avid reader of all things science, math, philosophy and history. As mobility and vision failed later in life, Jacque became very reliant on the National Library Service's audio book program for people with vision disabilities.
Military history was a particular favorite and in fact the week before his death, he was “rereading” the book Operation Drumbeat and said “I know what really happened, I was there.”
Jacque never lost his mental sharpness, even on his final day, and his wisdom and humor will be sorely missed.
Family and friends are invited to gather at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021 at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies at 1158 Morgan Road in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania for military honors. The family requests any honorariums be contributed to the National Museum of the US Navy in Washington DC or to a veteran’s support group of the donor's choice.
Arrangements by BEINHAUERS, Dormont, 412 531-4000. Please view or add tributes at www.beinhauer.com.