Roger Willis Hunt

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of retiree Roger Willis Hunt of Wareham, Mass., on January 8, 2015. He was 64.

Roger grew up in Lexington, Mass., and later lived in Marion, Carver, and Wareham. He was a graduate of Old Rochester High School in Mattapoisett, Mass.

Roger began his career at WHOI in 1982 as a mess attendant about the R/V Knorr. During his career at WHOI, he worked aboard the Oceanus, Lulu, and Atlantis II holding various positions.  He retired in 1988 as an oiler.  Roger was aboard the R/V Knorr when the ship found the Titanic in 1985.

After his career at WHOI, Roger worked at Murphy’s Auto Salvage and Eliot Youth Corp. He loved cars, the sea, people, and helping others.  He was very active in the Boys and Girls Club of Wareham for many years, and he greatly enjoyed working with young people. He made friends easily and, wherever he went, seemed to run into someone he knew.

Roger will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends in the community and elsewhere.

Roger was predeceased by his parents, Clifford and Jean Hunt of Marion, Mass., and his aunt, Hazel Hunt of Marion, Mass. He is survived by his son Greg Hunt, daughter-in-law Monica, and two granddaughters of Portland, Oregon. His siblings Carol Batonick and her husband Dan; Paul Hunt and his wife Cecelia; and Dan Hunt and his wife Diane. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Contributions in Roger’s memory can be made to Boston Medical Center, Office of Development, 801 Mass Avenue, Boston, Mass., 02118. Please ask that the gift be assigned to the Cardiovascular Center where he received such excellent care. Or, you may contribute to the Boys and Girls Club of Wareham, 13 Highland Ave., Wareham, Mass., 02538.

A memorial celebration of Roger’s life will be held at a date to be announced in the future.

Some of the information for this obituary was taken from the publication Wareham Week.