UMaine President Emeritus Hutchinson Dies at 79
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — Frederick E. Hutchinson, a native of the rural Maine town of Atkinson who graduated from the University of Maine in 1953 and later became his alma mater’s president, died today in Bangor at the age of 79.
The first member of his family to attend college, Hutchinson earned an agronomy degree from UMaine, followed by a doctorate at Pennsylvania State University. He served UMaine as a professor, dean and vice president before leaving to work for the U.S. Agency for International Development. Hutchinson returned to academic work at The Ohio State University where he served as provost.
He became UMaine’s 16th president on April 1, 1992, serving in that role until his 1997 retirement.
“Fred Hutchinson was a friend and mentor who exemplified the University of Maine experience,” says UMaine President Robert Kennedy. “He often spoke of the great opportunities that came his way only because he was able to earn a UMaine degree, and he was deeply honored to serve as the university’s president. Fred Hutchinson was a distinguished leader whose example will continue to inspire UMaine students and others for many years to come.”
UMaine’s Hutchinson Center in Belfast is named in Hutchinson’s honor. The center, which opened in 2000, brings UMaine classes and outreach programming to midcoast Maine.
“The Hutchinson Center is truly a fitting legacy to Fred Hutchinson,” Kennedy says. “It exists to create opportunities for those who can benefit from access to UMaine, just as Fred did during his remarkable life.”
Hutchinson is survived by his wife Dionne and two daughters.
Funeral arrangements are currently incomplete.
A photo of Frederick Hutchinson is available upon request.