Marcus Jonathan Hunt

Marcus Jonathan Hunt, 36, beloved husband, father, son and brother passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at his family vacation home in La Jolla, CA. Marcus was born in El Paso on November 9, 1971, to Woody and Gayle Hunt. He attended St. Clement’s Episcopal school before going to high school at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH. He attended St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy and Math, and a minor in Physics and Languages. Marcus began his business career as an independent securities dealer in San Francisco before returning to El Paso and joining the family companies. Marcus was extensively involved and dedicated to many civic and charitable organizations in El Paso. He served as the current chairman of the Regional Economic Development Corporation of El Paso, Las Cruces, and Ciudad Juarez. He was on the boards of Project Arriba, the Trans-Pecos Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization, the El Paso County Historical Society, Paso del Norte Group, Lydia Patterson Institute and the Nature Conservancy of New Mexico. Additionally, Marcus was a past board member of the El Paso/Juarez World Trade Center, the Camino Real Angels, and other civic and charitable organizations. Marcus was fourth-generation in the Hunt family businesses; he served as the financial manager for investments of Hunt Companies, Inc. and affiliate companies, as well as the Managing Partner for Hunt Holdings, L.P. He was president of the Hunt Family Foundation, a charitable trust set up to serve non-profit organizations in the El Paso southwest region. He served on the board of RF Code in Austin, TX and the Strategic Advisory Board of Flywheel Ventures in Santa Fe, NM. Marcus was a devoted family man and had a true love for life. Marcus had the ability to warm the hearts of all with his amazing smile and spirit every time he walked in a room. An avid outdoorsman, he had a passion for skiing and loved to kayak, hike and travel. Music was also a large part of his life; Marcus enjoyed seeing live concerts all over the country and was a passionate supporter of the El Paso Symphony and El Paso Opera. But his ultimate joy was spending time with his wife, Stacey Spoleta Hunt, and two daughters, Hayden and Gracyn. Marcus was eagerly anticipating the birth of his son in August. Marcus’s family wishes to recognize his courageous 20 year struggle with bipolar disease. His ability to be a successful husband, father, civic and business leader despite the challenges of the disease is something the family is very proud of. The family would like to give special thanks to the late Dr. Warren Weinberg of Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX; Dr. Jefferson Davis of Santa Fe, NM; Dr. Thomas Lewis of San Francisco, CA; and Dr. David Briones of Texas Tech School of Medicine-El Paso. Marcus is survived by his wife and children, his parents, his brothers Jason and wife Taryn; Joshua and wife Tita; Matthew and fiancé Breckie, and sister Sarah. He is also survived by his paternal grandmother Dot Hunt, uncle M.L. Hunt and aunt Norma; aunt Camille Robison and uncle Kenny, aunt Gloria George and husband Ken, his cousins Michelle Page, Marilyn Perry, Brian Perry, Chris Hunt, Nick Hunt and Katie, Mike and Jackson Robison, his nieces and nephews Catesby, John Cody, and Larkin. There are no words to express how much he will be missed by his loving family. He will remain in our hearts for all eternity. A memorial service will be held at St. Clement’s Church at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 30th, with Rev. Ronald Thomson officiating. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-West. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net. For those wishing to remember Marcus, memorial contributions can be made to Texas Tech School of Medicine - Department for Mental Health Research; 4800 Alberta Avenue; EL Paso, TX 79905 or The Nature Conservancy of New Mexico; 212 E. Marcy St. Suite 200, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2049. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West.