Brian Arnold Hunt

April 4, 1975 – August 19, 2021

Brian Arnold Hunt passed away August 19, 2021 after an extended battle with esophageal cancer. He was 46.

Brian was a 1993 graduate of Indian River High School in his hometown of Chesapeake, Virginia, where he participated in the marching band. He took his tuba talents to Charlottesville, where he graduated with a degree in anthropology in 1997. He was an active member of the UVa community, playing in the UVa Pep Band and volunteering with the Honor Committee, among other organizations. He was a brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi, where Brian made deep friendships as a fraternity brother that lasted the rest of his days and gave him many of his most cherished memories.

Brian remained in Charlottesville after graduation, until he returned to Tidewater in 2001 to enroll in the College of William and Mary School of Law. He excelled, became the Director of Student Legal Services, and spent a year as a freshly minted attorney working in indigent offense as a public defender.

While Brian appreciated the power of the law to offer equity to those without it and protection to those who needed it, he transitioned into a healthcare career, working for Optima Health for over 15 years. His self-deprecating and disarming humor, along with his keen mind, made Brian a fine colleague and a better friend.

Brian became a father on February 9, 2007, when Hannah arrived, weighing just over two pounds. Brian mastered the art and science of becoming a girl dad, always devoted, always loving, and always ready to help Hannah learn something new. Along with Hannah’s mother Jessica Henderson, Brian made sure that Hannah had every opportunity to flourish in every endeavor.

Heather Heying was the love of Brian’s life. They married in an oceanfront ceremony on November 2, 2013 in front of friends and family, with Hannah at their side. Heather was Brian’s champion, companion, and best friend, adventuring near (the Outer Banks!) and far (Peru!) together. Heather’s adoration of Brian’s brilliant mind was surpassed only by her love of Brian’s kind heart. The feeling was mutual, and Brian’s devotion to his redheaded bride was complete. In Brian’s illness, Heather was his constant support and caregiver, never far removed from his side.

On April 18, 2021, Heather and Brian welcomed a son, Nathaniel Arnold Hunt. Brian’s happiness was boundless, and Nate knew Brian’s love in every moment from that day forward.

Over the course of his life, Brian sought in every possible circumstance to use his talents and natural generosity to lift up others. With unparalleled empathy, Brian was attentive to the downtrodden and tuned in to needs and concerns far beyond himself. He considered the environmental impact of his actions with a broad concern for the well being of his fellow man, but was equally considerate in the smallest groups or when confronted with the most minor decisions. Brian was a giver, with a quiet humility that made him, often reluctantly, a leader as well. His smile was as ever-present as his ability to see the humor in every situation.

Brian was a natural polymath, with such diverse interests that even those closest to him struggled to keep up with his hobby du jour. From woodturning to making kombucha, he tried just about everything, then found another path to wander down. He sought knowledge wherever he could find it, becoming the family expert on subjects from the profound to obscure. He was a reader, a knower of facts, and a sharer of wisdom. Among the interests that were never far from his heart were music, movies, food and drink, travel, and politics, where he made his donations to his favorite candidate $27 at a time. He won his fantasy football league in 2018. He followed UVa sports, rooting on both terrible football teams and sublime basketball teams alike. He loved his cats Sophie and Rupert and dogs Beauty and Jackson (as well as most everyone else’s cats and dogs),and found new friends on every visit to the shelter. A newly discovered kitchen gadget, an exotic new snack or beverage, or an old favorite Lego set filled Brian with joy.

Brian was predeceased by his father, Arnold Frederick Hunt (1936-2002), and his mother, Elizabeth Albright Hunt (1942-2018). He is survived by his wife Heather, his daughter Hannah, his son Nate, his sisters Debbie (Mike) and Cindy (Keith), his nephews A. Wyville (Nancy), Jason, and Chad, and his niece Jessica. He leaves behind dozens of friends who loved him dearly and recognized his humor, kindness, and gentleness as the best this world has to offer.

Brian A. Hunt, you are gone too soon. You will be forever in our hearts, and those who love you will continue to care for those you cherished most.

Services for Brian A. Hunt will be held Saturday, September 18th at 11am at Old Donation Episcopal Church 4449 N Witchduck Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23455.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society in memory of Brian A Hunt.
https://donate3.cancer.org/?campaign=default&lang=en&giftType=hon&giftTypeMonthlyDisplay=0