Bangor and Sarasota, Fla. – Christopher Hutchins passed away suddenly on July 18, 2018 at his home in Sarasota, Fla. He was born on November 15, 1937 in Boston, Mass., the son of Curtis Marshall and Ruth (Rich) Hutchins. Christopher was raised in Bangor, Maine at the family estate, Kinnear, on Kenduskeag Avenue. Christopher spent his eighth grade year studying in Cuba where he met his future wife, Sandra Manée. During his childhood summers, he attended Camp Chewonki in Wiscasset, Maine and fished on the Miramachi River at the family fishing lodge in Doaktown, New Brunswick, Canada. He was a 1956 graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Conn. and a 1960 graduate of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. He was also a graduate of the program for management development at Harvard University. In 1960, upon graduating from college and marrying Sandra, Christopher joined the Army as a second lieutenant. After training in El Paso, Texas, he spent the rest of his service stationed with the Seventh Army in Grafenwoehr, Germany. In 1962, he returned to Maine to work at the family business, Dead River Company. For the next twelve years, he concentrated on managing the family’s extensive land holdings. His involvement with the land issues led him to be named an early commissioner on the Land Use Regulatory Commission. In addition to being instrumental in the incorporation of Carrabassett Valley, Maine, he also developed Redington North, a residential neighborhood near Sugarloaf Mountain. He spent many winter weekends skiing at Sugarloaf from the late 1960s to 2000s.
Christopher left Dead River Company in 1975 to found Alternative Energy, Incorporated (“AEI”). From 1975 to 2001, he grew this company into the largest biomass electrical-generation developer and operator in the country. At its peak, using a renewable resource, AEI generated electricity to power over 250,000 homes from plants in Maine and Michigan. He owned two iconic Maine companies, Snow and Nealley and The Maine Times. Christopher also developed and owned numerous Bangor real estate properties including 20 South Street on the Bangor waterfront. Christopher had an extremely astute eye for art and a passion for collecting. He was an avid collector of many types of art and owned an outstanding collection of cars. His sailboat, Cygnet, and his powerboat, Crisis, were bright-hulled mahogany, functioning works of art. He loved the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and frequently enjoyed performances at the now Collins Center for the Arts. He was a legendary Maine hockey fan and supporter as well as a lifelong Red Sox fan. In Sarasota, he also loved attending Ringling Brothers performances and the Sarasota Opera. Throughout his life, Christopher donated countless hours to non-profit and civic organizations. He was a long-term board member and chair of the University of Maine Foundation, a trustee of Husson College and a director of the Merrill Trust Company. Christopher was a Choate Rosemary Hall trustee for more than 20 years, as well as campaign chair for “A Shared Commitment”, a capital campaign that raised over $200 million for the school. He was the 2004 Choate Rosemary Hall Alumni Seal prize winner. Additionally, he was a renowned philanthropist supporting many local organizations, most notably the University of Maine, Husson University, United Way of Eastern Maine, YMCA/YWCA of Bangor, and the Maine Seacoast Mission, as well as a regular sponsor of the Greater Bangor Open golf tournament. He served the City of Bangor on numerous committees including the Bangor School Committee. He was an active member of both the Tarratine Club and Penobscot Valley Country Club. Christopher enjoyed many summers in Southwest Harbor, Maine. He was a member of the Causeway Club, Southwest Harbor, Maine and Pot and Kettle, Bar Harbor, Maine. Christopher was the Pot and Kettle’s 18th President from 1999-2002. Christopher was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Sandra, in December of 2016. He is survived by his two sons; Charles Manée Hutchins and his wife, Kelli, of Brewer, Maine; J. Britton Hutchins and his wife, Cara, of Prides Crossing, Mass.; and his grandchildren, Remington von Lengerke Hutchins and Lilia Tenbroeck Manée Hutchins, of Prides Crossing, Mass. He is also survived by his sisters; Hilda Hutchins McCollum of Bangor, Maine and Hope Hutchins Benton of Falmouth, Maine and their children. His sons are eternally grateful to their Dad’s outstanding caregivers in Florida: Sylvia, Stacey, Shawn, Bernice, and Tahmya. As many of them also took care of our Mom, words cannot express our gratitude for their kindness and dedication to our family. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5 to 7pm, Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, August 9, 2018, at All Souls Congregational Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor, with the Rev. Chad L. Poland, Pastor and Teacher, officiating. Interment will be private. The family invites relatives and friends to share memories and refreshments at The Tarratine, 81 Park Street, Bangor, immediately following the service. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.