Alicia Huber Hunt

1922 ~ 2020

Obituary Photo for Alicia Huber Hunt < >

Alicia Huber Hunt walked happily and peacefully into Heaven on October 28, 2020. She was 98. She passed in her sleep at home, with family at her side. She was ready for her next adventure- she had a long, fulfilling life, packed with LOVE, family, worldwide adventures with her husband of 67 years, John P. Hunt, children, and friends. Alicia is survived by her 3 children: Carrie Lawrie Hunt, Richard Charles Hunt and Anna Prior Kozole; daughter-in-law Caryn D. (Del Porto) Hunt, son-in-law Ken P. Kozole; and 6 grandchildren: Ryan H., Tyler J. and Kyla M. Kozole; and Cathryn E., Sarah D., and John W. Hunt.
Alicia E. Huber was one of 2 children born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on July 18, 1922, to Augusto “Oscar” Huber and Maria Cristina Cid. “Alice” (as her Argentine friends called her) and her brother “Charlie” (Charles) Henry Huber, were inseparable in their early years. In Argentina, Alice made lifelong friendships and early on, showed her characteristic zest for an extraordinary life and interacting with people as she learned to dance (including the Tango!), ride horses, be one of Argentina’s first women glider pilots and began the pursuit of her lifelong passion for sailing, drawing and painting. From 1926-1935, Alicia, Charlie and Maria C. lived in New York City, N.Y., surviving the Great Depression there, with the kids leaving twice to go to “Miss Beaddy’s” boarding school in New Brunswick, N.J. In 1935 Alicia returned with her new sailboat to Argentina, and in 1947 she and her sailing partner were the Argentine Snipe Class sailing champions and invited to represent Argentina in the world competition. In 1948 Alicia followed her brother Charlie to Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where she taught “conversational Spanish”, something that she ever after heralded as “the right way” to teach any language. It was at Cornell in a Russian class, that Alicia met John Hunt, the crewcut, young man from Utah, who would become her husband. Alicia’s first memory of John was watching him contort himself inside his sweater trying to pronounce the Russian words. John’s first memory of Alicia was watching her dance an exhibition Tango “in a tight, red sweater”. They became “study buddies”, and Alicia always said that she first, fell for his mind as they studied together and became friends. In her words, “John was like a steamroller” and slowly but surely won her heart. John in turn, saw in Alicia, a smart, insightful, blue-eyed, brunette beauty, who was vibrant, opinionated, independent, and athletic (she taught sailing and danced), who had a thoughtful mind of her own and an interest in all around her. They married in 1951 in Ithaca, NY, at her brother’s home.
In 1953 they drove to the University of California at Berkeley to pursue John’s PhD in Geology. Over the next 60+ years the two travelled the world for John’s work and for fun, raising their children in the mining camp of El Salvador, in the remote Andes of N. Chile; Salt Lake City, UT; Summit, NJ; Tucson, AZ; and finally settling in La Jolla, CA. in 1973. Throughout their lives together they enjoyed the company of each other, their children, and the multigenerational friendships all over the world that evolved. These friendships were, in Alicia’s words, their “collection of gems.” The two were a team, and in John’s words, Alicia was “the best wife and partner a man could hope to have”, supporting each other unconditionally in the other’s goals and passions. John was passionate about geology, family, life sciences, animals, music, and space. Alicia’s passions included motherhood, family, sailing, dancing, and her artwork (in particular, portraits full of color and “rim-lights”), where she created masterful likenesses and landscapes from their travels. She was also deeply interested in Sociology, listening to and engaging people to learn about their lives and discuss ideas, bringing out the best in them. She was known for her mischievous and audacious spirit, her love of proper English, her ladylike manners-including dress and sensitivities, her “High Teas,” her life-long, youthful health and energy, and her laughter and positive attitude toward life and any challenge. The “Hunt” parties were legendary, due in large part to Alicia’s ability to get people to let loose and have fun. The parties started in the mining camps of N. Chile and continued throughout their lives, filled with music, dancing, themes, games, and adventures, with all generations taking part in them and cultivating long-term, extended family friendships. Alicia and John imparted their values, interests, and traditions to their children, for lifelong application in their own lives and families. She was supportive and involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She was deeply loved and an inspiration to all: she was “the best Mom and ‘Nana’ anyone could hope to have” and became “another Mother” for many, due to her genuine love and wise counsel.
Her long-time wish was for family and friends to read Amado Nervo’s poem “En Paz” as her final words to all. The words include: “I see that I was the architect of my destiny… I loved, I was loved, the sun caressed my face, Life you owe me nothing, Life we are At Peace.” No funeral services will be held. Alicia felt that the wonderful 3-day party with family and friends that was held after John’s passing was a celebration of both of their lives. Her family does plan to have a fun gathering sometime in the future centered around a showing of her art, family, friends, and love. Her passing is truly “Bittersweet”- she was ready, but Alicia, as a Mom and a friend was one of a kind, the likes of which will not be seen again, she will always be missed!