Please visit our online memorial and guestbook JOHN VAN DEVENTER HUTCHINSON DIES AT 83 John Van Deventer Hutchinson passed suddenly and without suffering on April 13 at the age of 83. His father, Irving Norton Hutchinson SR, owned the Chandlery shop down at the docks in Oyster Bay where the ferry docked. His mother was Mary Van Deventer Talmage, daughter of the Rev. Dr. George Edwin Talmage, rector of Christ Church in Oyster Bay for 25 years. Born in Oyster Bay John, aka Jack, graduated from Oyster Bay High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Navy toward the end of WWII. While on active duty, he served our country in locations all over the world. He spent much of his Navy career with the Seabees (Navy Construction Battalion). His assignments included tours in Greenland and in Antarctica where he was part of the team that built a 6000 foot ice runway on McMurdo Sound. After 23 years of service and adventure, he retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. Upon retirement, he briefly lived in Rhode Island before moving back to his home town - Oyster Bay - to spend the rest of his life. During summer seasons through 2008, he sailed weekly with the Seawanhaka Place Yacht Squadron (aka SPYS). SPYS is a group of ladies and gentlemen who love to race their Sunfish around the eastern end of Oyster Bay Harbor on summer Sunday afternoons. A 25 year life member of the American Legion (15 years with OB Post 4) he could always be seen marching with them in the Oyster Bay and East Norwich parades. Also representing the Legion in helping to honor countless fallen veterans. He was an active member of the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center in Oyster Bay and was described by the staff as a contributing "Pillar" of the organization. A kind, gentle, and generous soul he was always willing to help anyone who needed it. Jack was predeceased by his sister, Ruth Talmage Hutchinson Miller of St. Louis, MO, and his brother Irving Norton Hutchinson Jr., of Oyster Bay. He is survived by his brother Donald Godee Hutchinson of Fayetteville, PA, and eight nephews and nieces - Helen Judith Hutchinson (Lou) Catalfo of Bel Air, MD, George Errickson (Melissa) Hutchinson of Oyster Bay, Mark Talmage (Lisa) Hutchinson of Syosset, NY, David Kerkham (Claudia) Hutchinson of State College, PA, Amy Talmage Hutchinson (David) Noji of Baltimore, MD, Jennie Norton Hutchinson (Don) Shanks of Southern MD, John Charles (Virginia) Miller of Siera Vista, AZ. and Bradley Potter (Mary) Hutchinson of East Norwich, NY. Jack was also survived by nineteen great nephews and nieces, along with eighteen great-great nephews and nieces. Also his extended family and friends of Oyster Bay's, Doubleday Babcock Senior Center, the American Legion Post 4 and local Sunfish (SPYS) fleet #42. Funeral Information Services will be under the direction of the Francis P. DeVine Funeral Home, Inc., at 293 South Street, Oyster Bay, from 7 to 9 P.M. on May 7, 2009, with a Memorial Service Honoring Jack by the American Legion at about 8pm; The Navy Honor Guard will also attend in honor of Jack.