5/9/2025 Daily Sentinel article honoring Lucretia
Lucretia Hunt at the Utica State Office Building on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
UTICA — In a city known for its progress and pride, one woman from Utica stands as a living symbol for both. Lucretia DeSantis Hunt has dedicated her life to helping her community and those around her — and at 96 years old, she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
Born in Utica to parents Victor and Beatrice DeSantis, she was raised in a family deeply rooted in civic engagement. It was through their involvement in local politics that she first discovered the power of service.
She credits her family’s enduring commitment to community and the strong values instilled in her from a young age as the foundation of her lifelong dedication to helping others.
“That’s all we ever knew was work, be good, don’t take anything that isn’t yours, don’t cause any trouble, don’t bring disgrace to the family,” Hunt said. “That’s all I remember — always helping and doing. If you were able to do it, you did it, and that was it. It was not that you did it for glory or anything, just that not everybody was the same status as you were.”
She later married Fred Hunt and moved to Puerto Rico, where she embraced the Spanish language. Together, she and her late husband had a daughter and two granddaughters, one of whom has since passed.
Lucretia Hunt at the Utica State Office Building on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
Hunt has made helping others not just a calling, but the very fabric of her life’s work. Upon returning to Utica, she spent decades teaching English as a second language, becoming a guiding light for immigrants striving to build new lives in America. Her dedication to accessible education didn’t stop there, as she later took on the role of chief examiner for the New York State Department of Education’s GED Program, shaping pathways to opportunity for adult learners.
Beyond the classroom, Hunt’s commitment to public service has been just as profound. While she never assumed public office, she spent decades working tirelessly behind the scenes, believing she could make a greater impact supporting others than standing in the spotlight.
She has lent her time and leadership to numerous civic and community organizations, including the City of Utica Parks Commission, the Utica Municipal Housing Authority/People First Board of Commissioners, the Oneida County Office of the Aging/Continuing Care Advisory Council, the Home Ownership Center, 50 Forward Mohawk Valley, and the League of Women Voters — organizations all working to strengthen the fabric of local community life. Her involvement extends to local politics, where she served on local, county, and state Democratic committees. Hunt also spends her weekends supervising and volunteering at Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen.
In addition to her extensive community involvement, she also volunteers for her “adopted daughter,” Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, continuing her commitment to public service and community advocacy.
“Lucretia has always been an outstanding mentor and serves her community in so many ways. I always wish her the best and recommend that anyone spend a day with her to witness her vision and dedication to those within the Mohawk Valley,” Buttenschon said.
Hunt’s unwavering dedication and longstanding service to her community have not gone unnoticed, being formally recognized on several occasions. In 2017, she received special recognition from the New York State Office for the Aging for her service. In 2023, her legacy was further cemented when the City of Utica dedicated an honorary street sign at the corner of Bleecker Street and Kossuth Avenue, also known as Lucretia DeSantis Hunt Way. Most recently, in 2024, the Oneida County History Center named her a Living Legend, a testament to her lasting impact on the region.
"In all of those years, she has worked literally every day to make the community better. She is a force in this community. She really is the epitome of a community advocate. That title sometimes gets overused, but not in her case,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., who Hunt affectionately refers to as “one of her boys.”
“I’m proud to know her and proud that she’s a friend,” he added.
Nearing a century in age, Hunt says the secret to her long and fulfilling life comes from the values instilled by her parents, saying she feels a responsibility to use her abilities for good. and will continue to do so as long as she is able.
“I love my city. I will defend it to the end,” Hunt said. “This is my city, and it’s a good city. It’s been good to the people. Our city has a lot to be proud of.”
