Stewart Guy Hunt of Ancram died unexpectedly on June 15 at Columbia Memorial Hospital after responding to an emergency call with the Ancram Fire Department. He was 37.
Hunt was born in Hudson, New York, and was the son of William and Kathleen (Boothby) Hunt. He graduated from Taconic Hills High School in 2004 and studied at Columbia-Greene Community College. He went to work for the Town of Hillsdale highway department and then became a motor equipment operator for Columbia County. An avid outdoors person who enjoyed hunting and being in the woods, he also was a frequent golfer, and would try to play at least twice a week.
Hunt had a long career in firefighting and service to his community. In 2002, he joined the Ancram Fire Department and served until 2008. From 2011-2015, he served with Becraft Pumper Company #2 as part of the Greenport Fire Department. He was a member of Taghkanic Fire Company from 2016-2021 and rejoined the Ancram Fire Department in 2022. He was also an emergency medical technician and driver for the Community Rescue Squad.
He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Shumsky-Hunt; their son, Zachary G. Hunt; his parents, William and Kathleen Hunt; his brother, William C. “Topher” Hunt and his wife, Jamie Hunt; his uncles, David Hunt, Daniel Hunt and George Boothby; his nieces and nephews, Emily and Joshua Hunt, and Emily and Owen Shumsky; his mother-in-law, Janet Shumsky; his brother-in-law, Jeffrey (Shannon) Shumsky; his cousins, Hillary Kelley and Abby Holmes and David and Brian Hunt; and his godfather, Jim Campion.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Peck & Peck Funeral Home, 8063 Route 22, Copake, New York. A fireman’s prayer service will be held at 6 p.m., with Deacon Richard Washburn officiating. Fire department personnel are encouraged to attend beginning at 6 p.m. A full firefighter’s funeral will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Hope Parish, 8074 Route 22, Copake Falls. Interment will follow at Ancram Union Cemetery.
The family requested that donations in his name be made to the Ancram Fire Department, which will used to defray funeral costs. The fire department will also establish a college fund for his son, Zachary. Donors to the college fund should put “Zachary’s College Fund” in the memo line of the check.