John Russell Hutchins
August 29, 1944 - December 24, 2024
Obituary
It is with great sadness we announce the death of John Russell Hutchins, dedicated husband, father, friend, and mentor. Admired and respected by those who met him, he was loved by many, especially his wife Nancy and daughter Marie. John passed on December 24, 2024, with his family by his side.
John was born to Russell and Lucile Hutchins in Seattle, Washington on August 29, 1944. The first of eight children, John was a gifted leader, organizing raids on Christmas presents for playtime when his folks went out to finish their holiday shopping. After graduating with a degree in Forestry Engineering from Oregon State University and a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, he went on to lead two successful engineering practices, Summit Technology, Inc. and Harbor Consulting Engineers, Inc., with a focus on civil and structural engineering. John played an important role in large local civic projects, including participating as a design team member for both Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park, designing structural reinforcement for the Interstate-5 corridor bridges, and shaping the Seattle Waterfront with projects for the Port of Seattle and their maritime tenants. He was proud to lead projects returning salmon runs upstream of the Bonneville and Dalles dams on the Columbia River through innovative fish passage designs and developed state-of-the-art approaches to challenges faced by his clients. John also mentored many engineers and other professionals at the start their careers, including Brian Abel, who became Vice President of Harbor Consulting Engineers, and several of his nephews, Patrick and Brendan Hutchins, and Kendall Norcott.
John met Nancy Gigoux at Oregon State University and they married in 1968. They settled in Seattle, Washington, where John designed and built their dream home, sited on the shores of Portage Bay. They lived there for over fifty-five years together. He undertook several passion projects with good friend Doug Rosenberg, from levee design to lower flood waters in Tillamook, Oregon, and dock design and construction at the Rosenberg’s home on Crane Island.
After honing his budding skiing skills as a young boy on the slopes near Burlington, Vermont, John went on to compete in alpine ski racing at Paul Smith and Oregon State University. He loved the power and adrenaline rush of downhill and mastering the terrain. He enjoyed helicopter skiing in Canada and taught his daughter Marie to love the sport on the slopes of Alpental and Stevens Pass in the Cascades of Washington State. His final days on the slopes were enjoyed old-school style, in his battered Levi 501s, followed by a cold beer by the lodge fireplace.
Going fast on the slopes translated to a love of speed in other areas. Upon the occasion of his first retirement, he confessed to Nancy a life-long love of Corvette convertibles. His first Corvette was white with red leather interior, and he delighted in taking Nancy for long drives in their “date-mobile.” This was the first of four Corvettes, with the most recent model being a custom black 2022 Corvette Stingray convertible. The entire family went to Bowling Green, Kentucky to accept delivery of this precious car, enjoying a stay in nearby Nashville and touring a thoroughbred racehorse farm. John and Nancy took their time returning to Seattle, driving the Corvette through Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, Sheridon, Wyoming, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park.
John also loved dogs, training them as bird hunting companions during his formative years. He continued to hunt throughout his life, joining good friend Dennis Wilt on regular elk-hunting excursions in Montana, British Columbia, and New Mexico. He proudly displayed a head and shoulder mount of a
twelve-point elk, affectionally named Rupert, in his office at Harbor following one successful expedition. John shared the proceeds of each hunt, and family and friends alike agreed Rupert was delicious.
Shortly after his arrival in Seattle in the late 60s, John purchased a dilapidated and cat-filled sailboat for $200. After learning how to fiberglass the hull and encouraging Nancy to take sailing lessons at the nearby Seattle Yacht Club, John embarked on a lifelong journey as Captain of his own ship. His most recent sailing vessel, a FastPassage christened Swiftsure, took him on many adventures throughout the Puget Sound and into British Columbia, Canada. He shared this passion with his family and many friends over the years, exploring the San Juan Islands with his brother-in-law Eugene and his nephews, Steve, Chris, and Alex during summer vacations; the Canadian Gulf Islands with fellow FastPassage owners Doug and Sandy Chisholm; and circumnavigating Vancouver Island with John and Bill Winslow.
John is survived by his wife, Nancy; their daughter, Marie; and siblings Don (Sylvia), Dawn (Paul), Joan (John), Janet (Amir), Colleen (Tom), and Jim, along with many cousins, nephews, and nieces. He was predeceased by father Russell, mother Lucile, and brother Bob (Andrea).
Donations in John’s memory can be made to the Structural Engineers of Washington Scholarship Fund, an organization where he served as President in 1983 – 1984, supporting aspiring engineers to obtain the education that he so greatly valued. SEAW Link
A private memorial will be held later this year when the sun is shining on the local waters that he loved so much. His friends and family are invited to share happy memories and celebrate John’s life in the way he would want to be remembered – as a loving and caring man who enjoyed life to the fullest.
May the wind be ever at your back. Fair weather and God Speed!
