Cameron Edwin Hutchins
November 17, 1958 – July 9, 2021
Cameron Edwin Hutchins
Cameron Edwin Hutchins was a beloved husband, father, and friend remembered for his quick wit, integrity, and commitment to New Canaan. He died on Friday July 9, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born to Dan and Marilyn Hutchins in Summit, New Jersey; Cam spent the first years of his life in Mercer Island, WA before his family settled in New Canaan, CT in 1965. Cam met many of his lifelong friends at Center School, Saxe Middle School, and New Canaan High School; and continued to cultivate these connections through his work on NCHS reunions and the Class of 1977 Scholarship Fund.
Cam filled out his circle of childhood friends at the Roton Point Association, a beach club in Rowayton, CT; where he spent every summer and stayed actively involved as an adult. He was elected to the Roton Point Board of Directors in 1998 and had served ever since, first as Club Secretary and then as Club President.
Cam attended Amherst College, where he expanded his group of lifelong friends. He served as Class Secretary for 30 years, offering creative suggestions for classmates to share their life adventures and enjoyed planning several reunions for the Class of 1981.
After graduating from Amherst, Cam worked in advertising in New York before attending the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, where he met his future wife, Julia Portale. He spent several years at Citibank where he ran the customer interface for Direct Access, a telephone banking service; and Humanware, an incubator responsible for developing the online customer experience. Cam then moved back into advertising, working on creative teams for several large and small firms in New York and Connecticut.
His final career move brought him to Horizons National, an organization that advances educational equity through long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools. At Horizons, Cam applied his writing and creative skills to support a mission close to his heart and found many kindred spirits among his colleagues; in his final years, he was rarely seen without his signature Horizons baseball cap.
As a longtime resident of New Canaan, Cam was deeply invested in his local community. He led efforts to protect a key part of Waveny Park from development, served as Chair of the New Canaan Conservation Commission, and advocated against the destruction of both the historic Center School and 1913 town library. He was a dedicated member of The Congregational Church of New Canaan, where he and Julia were married, and where he participated in various activities, including Bible study, an OG mission trip, taught a Sunday school class, and served a term as Deacon.
Most of all, Cam enjoyed—and excelled at—being a husband to Julia, and a father to Emma, Alex, and Lily. He was quick to volunteer his time and talents to his family—from his work as soccer team manager, post-prom organizer, high school “chauffeur”, schoolwork helper, and unconditional cheerleader.
Cam is survived by his wife Julia Portale; children Emma Hutchins, Alex Hutchins, and Lily Shive; and sister Dani Hutchins Mollenkamp (Dave) and many beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by dear friends Jon and Ann Vitti, who helped Cam through his most difficult chapter.
Throughout his life, Cam brought good humor, integrity, creativity, kindness, and details of all things big and small to his relationships with family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and to the town and beach communities he loved.
A celebration of Cam’s life will be held on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm at The Congregational Church of New Canaan. The service will be live-streamed for those not able to attend in person at https://vimeo.com/event/1145270. A reception will follow at Roton Point Club in Rowayton, CT.
Memorial donations may be made to Horizons National (www.horizonsnational.org) or the Fairfield County Hospice House (www.fairfieldcountyhouse.org).
What a huge loss to our community.
I was fortunate enough to work with Cam on a few projects since my arrival in New Canaan in 1998. Cam was an advocate and leader for our environment, a preservationist who touched so many lives with his intelligence, humor and decency. Thank you Cam for your unwavering care for New Canaan and its residents.
May God comfort your family during this difficult time.
I am heartbroken. I was a fellow writer and colleague of Cam’s at Clarion and Arc Worldwide and always enjoyed collaborating with him. Quick witted and very talented, Cam was also an incredible human being who made even the most challenging days at the office a pleasure. I will miss his ready smile, genuine warmth, rare brand of humor, and unceasing natural optimism. God bless and keep you Cam. You will always bring a smile to so many hearts.
The New Canaan Conservation Commissioners are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Cam Hutchins after a valiant struggle. Cam was heart and soul New Canaan – thoughtful, erudite and a gentlemen. Our heartfelt condolences your family.
I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Cam Hutchins. He was an exceptional community volunteer. I met him when he joined my first campaign team. He served as Chair of the Conservation Commission, was an excellent thinker and a pleasure to work with. He could always be trusted to make the right decision for the Town.
My sincere condolences to his wife and three children.
What incredibly sad news it is to lose such a special and caring individual as Cam. He and his family shared nearly the same time going through our school system as our family did, and I would see his smiling face at numerous events. But Cam’s letters to the papers on behalf of conservation and many other topics were the way I understood his ability to reach people with carefully reasoned and passionate thoughts about our community and beyond. My deepest condolences to the family.
Really sad to learn of Cam’s passing, both Rachel and I enjoyed his wit and his intellect in Bible Study and in conversation. He will be much missed by us both.
With great sadness we part from Cam , a Friend , partner , member and a great community leader.
Knowing about his serious illness, it gave us hope for recovery when we heard him singing on Memorial Day opening ceremony of Roton Point.
He will be greatly missed !
Enikő and Laszlo
Heartbreaking loss for community and friends, Cam was always a smiling inspiration to us all!
I cared for Emma & Alex at Rainbow Station Day Care. I remember them and Cam and Julia very well. We still exchange Christmas cards after all these years.
Cam was a lovely man, and will be missed by so many people.
I just watched his lovely service, Livestream from my home in Colchester, Ct.