GLOUCESTER: Alice M. (McCollum) Hunt, 88, died peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, February 12, 2011 in the Seacoast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Gloucester. She was the wife of the late Richard V. Hunt.
Born in Boston on September 3, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Edward E. and Agnes (Brown) McCollum. She resided in Gloucester for most of her life and was a graduate of Gloucester High School class of 1940.
As a young woman, she worked for Samuel Mansfield as a secretary and at the Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House on Eastern Point. During World War II, she was employed at Hy-Tron in Ipswich making mechanical parts for the war effort. After the War ended, she moved to Hollywood, CA and worked for NBC Studios where she met such luminaries as Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby.
She returned to Gloucester and after her marriage, she devoted her life to her family. Alice was well known for her beautiful singing voice and music was the love of her life. She was a soloist at various local churches and eventually she became the regular soloist at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rockport where she sang for many years.
Later in life, Alice worked at Beauport Antiques where she was able to share her knowledge and love of antiques with the customers. Alice always remained connected to her Irish roots and she stayed in close contact with her extended family in Belfast, N. Ireland. She had an interest in history and culture and she traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. She was a skilled knitter and she donated many of her finely crafted sweaters, hats and mittens to church fairs and hospitals.
She is survived by her five children, Eileen, Richard, Alison, John and Alan; a granddaughter, Melissa; a sister, Irene and her husband, Robert Zager and a brother, Edward and his wife, Sheila McCollum.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in the Spring. There are no visiting hours. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the “Resident Activity Fund” c/o Seacoast Nursing & Rehab. Center, 292 Washington St., Gloucester, MA 01930.