Among the many words that Whitney Williams uses to describe her friend, the late Cam Hutchins—humble, gifted, creative, solid, thoughtful, unpretentious, honest and diplomatic—is “mischievous.”
L-R: Chase Williams, Whitney Williams and Cam Hutchins. Photo courtesy of Whitney Williams
Once on a cold day during a boys soccer game, Hutchins snapped a picture of Williams as she sat bundled up in the stands in “one of those sleeping bag coats,” she recalled, with “a terrible hat on” and “screaming” with other parents while cheering on their sons, “just looking awful.”
“He took a picture of me, in particular, looking horrible,” Williams recalled with a laugh. “And every now and then, out of nowhere, this photo would just appear on my phone. He would just send it for no reason whatsoever. And I would just be like, ‘Oh my god.’ It was just his way of saying, ‘Hey, I’m just thinking about you.’ But he’s not going to send a nice picture. He’s going to send a horrible picture.”
Julia Portale, tri-captain Alex Hutchins and Cam Hutchins at the varsity NCHS Rams Soccer Team’s Senior Night at Dunning Field, Oct. 22, 2014. Credit: Michael Dinan
Earlier this month, as Williams went with friends and family to visit Hutchins in hospice and say goodbye, she recalled through tears, “I said to him, ‘Cam, still the absolute worst picture I’ve ever seen of me.’ ”
”And he said, ‘I had to take a thousand pictures of you before I got a bad one.’ And I thought: That’s just so Cam. He’s so kind and funny at the same time. And you just don’t meet a lot of people like that.”
Hutchins died July 9 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 62.
L-R: Cam Hutchins with his son Alex, daughter Emma and wife Julia at New Canaan High School graduation in June 2015. Contributed
He is survived by his wife Julia Portale, children Emma Hutchins, Alex Hutchins and Lily Shive, sister Dani Hutchins and her husband, Dave, and many beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews. A celebration of Hutchins’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Aug. 12 at The Congregational Church of New Canaan (live-streamed here for those unable to attend in person), with a reception to follow at Roton Point Club in Rowayton.
In the wake of his passing, friends remembered the 1977 New Canaan High School graduate as a devoted family man with enormous pride in his hometown and a dazzling knowledge of its history. Plainspoken, gentle, respectful and often sporting a trademark Amherst College or Horizons baseball cap, Hutchins also is remembered by friends for his deep involvement in the community and gift for taking firm positions on important town matters without ever belittling opposing points of view.
Cam Hutchins and Nick Williams. Photo courtesy of Whitney Williams
Former First Selectman Rob Mallozzi described Hutchins as a friend and “New Canaan guy through and through.”
“I am so thankful to have Cam, Julia and their entire family in my life,” Mallozzi said. “Cam absolutely loved this town and he took great pride in protecting New Canaan traditions.”
“As happens in any long-term friendship, Cam and I weren’t always on the same page,” Mallozzi continued. “I remember after putting Cam on the Conservation Commission, he took issue with me and the Town Hall Building Committee as we could not make the economics or energy savings work—at that time—to allow for solar panels on the roof of the new building. Cam expressed his disappointment passionately and articulately, but never made it personal or ever thought about using the current, fall-back position of disrupting the entire decision-making process on that single issue.”
L-R Melissa Smith, Cam Hutchins, Jon Potter, Julia Portale and Sam Tingley. photo courtesy of Whitney Williams
With respect to the renovated and expanded Town Hall, Hutchins “maintained his enthusiasm for the project and all of the other environmentally friendly initiatives my administration undertook despite that decision,” Mallozzi said.
As a member and chair of the New Canaan Conservation Commission, Hutchins left an indelible mark, according to Chris Schipper, who now leads the appointed body.
New Canaan Conservation Commission Chairman (and former Center Schooler) Cam Hutchins at a May 8, 2014 Conservation Commission meeting. Credit: Michael Dinan
Schipper, who shares a birthday with Hutchins and met him through Portale when she served on the New Canaan Land Trust’s board, said that Hutchins was instrumental in testing and keeping pesticides and chemicals out of rivers and streams in New Canaan, including ponds. An outspoken critic of Aquarion’s plan to sell off an Indian Waters Drive parcel—a proposal that faced wide opposition and later was scuttled—Hutchins also was a leading voice in calling for New Canaan to be better prepared to acquire and protect open space when it became available. As such, he was a key figure in establishing New Canaan’s Land Acquisition Fund, Schipper said.
Cam Hutchins and Jennifer (Stoops) Burns. Photo courtesy of Whitney Williams
“I will miss him,” Schipper said.
New Canaan’s Terry Dinan, who has written most of the “0684-Old” local history features for this publication, called Hutchins “a walking New Canaan encyclopedia.”
“He knew everything about anything that had to do with this town, from Center School to Breslow’s,” Dinan said. “I always went to him if I needed anything clarified or confirmed about New Canaan history. Speaks to his thoughtful perception, intelligence and deep love of New Canaan. Just a kind, genuine, beautiful guy.”
Cam Hutchins, Jena Anthony and Julia Portale. Photo courtesy of Whitney Williams
For Williams, Hutchins was a “master of words” both written and spoken, as evident in heartfelt tributes he posted for Portale on occasions such as anniversaries, and for his deceased parents on Fathers and Mothers Day. His unique ability to communicate not only changed her mind on specific town issues, such as a divisive proposal to develop a part of Waveny for senior housing, but also changed her as a person.
Conservation Comission Chair Cam Hutchins shares his favorite song of the summer over a root beer float inside of Baskin Robbins. Credit: Alex Hutchins
“He never made anyone feel bad about having an opposing view, he just always wanted you to see it from another perspective,” Williams said.
She added, “He made me see things differently. And I’m going to miss that about him a lot, because he was like a beacon for me in a lot of different ways.”
“He just was one of the greatest New Canaan people that I’ve ever known,” Williams said. “And I’ve known a lot.”
Years ago, before I became involved in local government, the town proposed constructing a large building in Waveny Park to house the Board of Education. An ad hoc group – Hands Off Waveny – was formed to oppose that plan, and Cam, with his wisdom, wit, and flair for the written word, was a key player in that ultimately successful effort.
Over the years Cam taught me the importance of keeping Waveny Park as natural and pristine as possible. I’m eternally grateful for that guidance, and even more so for our enduring friendship. Creative, funny, kind and caring. What more can you ask for in a man?
Thank you everyone who contributed to this wonderful tribute – Cam would love it!
The neighborhood will not be the same without seeing him walking the dog.
The photos, the reminiscences, and lovely recollections all capture the true gracious and generous spirit of Cam. You all captured his caring essence so beautifully. He was like that ever since our parents took him home from the hospital in November 1958! Thanks for the captivating recap of a life so lovingly and joyously lived! ❤
What a great guy and family man. My husband and I always enjoyed sideline talking with him over the years our daughters played soccer.
A very memorable man.
Thinking of Julia and his children.
Thank you for sharing all his qualities that made him touch so many lives🤍
I met Cam as a fellow NCHS soccer team parent. Because of our similar backgrounds and taste in music and Cam’s warm, open personality, I felt I had met a sole mate. He will be missed.
It’s so saddening to hear, belatedly, of Cam’s passing. We worked together at a tech firm back in the 1980s; Cam was a bright shining light there, too. We kept in touch on and off thru the years, and I’ll always remember with a smile his funny and kindly/mischievous re-connects. An unassuming and deeply-smart force of nature, he was. My life is richer for having known this man.