Richard (Dick) Hutchins

EAST CORINTH-Richard (Dick) Hutchins passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025 at the Jack Byrne Center in Lebanon, NH, following a courageous battle with cancer. Dick was born on November 3, 1942, at Barre City Hospital, the only son of Wendell C. and Catherine (Griswold) Hutchins. He attended the Lincoln School in Barre and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1960. Following his graduation, he attended the University of Vermont where he pledged membership with the Kappa Sig fraternity. During the summer months, he worked for the John D. Cook Contracting Company in Barre, VT and when John decided to retire, Dick bought John’s concrete forms and equipment and started a concrete business under the name of “Foundations by Hutch”. Then in 1972 he bought the Kelly Construction Company and as this company expanded, it was later named the Hutch Concrete Contracting Corporation when he also formed Hutch Material and Supply and Hutch Redi-Mix. Dick secured contracts with many large corporations all over New England including Bay Colony in Waltham, MA, a large concrete job on the Connecticut coast, as well as a large underground parking garage in Revere, MA and countless jobs at Dartmouth College. However, the job of which he was the most proud was the 1988 contract to build all the foundations for what is now the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon NH. After closing the concrete business, he formed Hutch Crane and Pump Rental Corp. which provided hoisting services for all of Vermont and western New Hampshire. Over the years, Dick was a member of numerous professional associations, including being one of 6 founding members of the Concrete Foundations of America organization for which he was honored at a meeting of members in Sandusky, Ohio in the summer of 2014. Following his time at UVM, he was a member of the Vermont Air National Guard, receiving his training in Texas. He also enjoyed memberships in more local organizations including the Barre Elks Club, the Canadian Club, the Barre Mutuo Soccorso, the Lion’s Club, the American Legion and the former Ethan Allen Club of Burlington, just to name a few. Throughout his years, he was an avid hunter and snowmobiler, having been president of the Barre Sno-Bees Snowmobile Club, and was one of the founders of that organization. Dick loved spending time in the woods and never saw a tree that didn’t need his pruning expertise, nor a brush pile that didn’t need to be burned, nor a glass mayonnaise jar that didn’t need to be saved. One never had to wonder what Dick was thinking as he was always prepared to offer his personal opinion on any subject, especially politics, and was more than willing to dispense his advice, both solicited and unsolicited, especially to his partner, Sarah, and his family members. In 1965, Dick married Nancy Peterson and together they raised 3 children, Rick Hutchins, Scott Hutchins and Beth Hutchins Davis. Approximately 12 years after his divorce, he met Sarah W. Polli who became his co-worker and life partner until his death. Dick was known for his tremendous work ethic, but he also loved to entertain friends at his home in Waterbury, as well as his camp on Lake Eligo in Greensboro and his lodge on Willey Hill in Topham, VT, some of which even featured ice sculptures. In his younger years he competed in the snowmobile racing circuit, and raced snowmobiles for the Arctic cat dealer, Rodco, of Randolph, VT. However, with the responsibility of raising three children and working diligently to expand his concrete business, he felt that continuing to race snowmobiles was a rather dangerous and risky activity. At one point in time, Dick was even a dealer for Scorpion snowmobiles as well as being a dealer for 6 wheeled Ridgerunner ATVs. He was predeceased by his parents, as well as his grandchild, Kyle Davis. His survivors include his 40-year partner, Sarah W. Polli, his son Richard B. Hutchins (Tammy) of South Barre, his son, Scott W. Hutchins, of Graniteville, and his daughter Beth Hutchins Davis (Blake), of Cincinnatus, NY. Additionally, he is survived by seven grandchildren, Jennifer and Ricky Hutchins, Michael, Alessia, Natalie and Isabella Davis, and Brooklyn Hutchins. He also leaves two great grandchildren, Michael Hutchins and Allison Hutchins. His wit and wisdom will be sorely missed by all his friends and family members. A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, July 13TH at 2pm at the Barre, VT Congregational Church at 35 Church Street. A fellowship gathering will be at the Barre Mutuo club at 20 Beckley Street. Donations in his memory may be made to the East Corinth Congregational Church, P. O. Box 1086, East Corinth, VT 05040 or to a charity of your choice. Arrangements are in the care of Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home, 58 Summer Street in Barre. Those Wishing to express online condolences may do so at: www.pruneaupollifuneralhome.com

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Richard (Dick) Hutchins

November 3, 1942 - May 26, 2025