Marlene Elissa Hunt's Obituary
Marlene Elissa Hunt was born in South Bend, Indiana on July 4, 1934. Marlene attended Studebaker School, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and John Adams High School. She graduated from Adams and subsequently attended classes at Indiana University at South Bend. Marlene is survived by her three children from an early marriage: David Katz, Cindy Hunt and Jay Katz.
Marlene’s early involvement in politics and government, journalism and the arts expressed itself early during her years as a student at Adams, where she wrote for the student newspaper, The Tower, and participated in Jewish youth activities in South Bend and beyond.
As the nation entered the politically turbulent sixties, Marlene, now the mother of three young children, became active in the turbulent 1968 primary election, volunteering in the campaign of Eugene McCarthy.
That campaign secured Marlene’s lifelong interest in politics, last expressed in Indiana in her active support of Barack Obama in the pivotal 2008 Indiana primary. Marlene regarded her countrymen’s choice of its first Black President as, among many meanings, a sign that her fellow Americans continue to embrace the dream of a “more perfect union” for all. Marlene maintained her support for President Obama throughout her life and, with great pride, watched the President’s 2008 State of the Union speech from her hospital bed.
In 1971, Marlene worked as a volunteer coordinator in the successful Mayoral campaign of Jerry Miller. It was during that election that Marlene met Doug Hunt, who had just returned from US Army service. Doug was a novice candidate for City Council, an election which, though a losing effort by 46 votes, set a path in public service and politics for both Marlene and Doug. Marlene first met Doug’s younger brother Rick at that time, who was developing from the ground up voter identification strategies and techniques that have since become staple methods of get out the vote operations. As sophisticated as those techniques have become – some say to the point of cynicism – early applications in the Brademas campaigns were groundbreaking at the time.
Marlene joined the new Miller administration in 1972. One of her earliest positions was at the South Bend Water Works, where she brought a much needed understanding of the customer service side of the water works. Marlene’s personal and political moxie was evidenced during the controversial campaign of segregationist Governor George Wallace who spoke at what is now the Morris Civic Auditorium. When Alabama State Troopers attempted to encroach on Water Works property, Marlene engaged in a verbal confrontation, much to the appreciation of many of the African American clerical staff of the Water Works.
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Marlene set up and ran the “Mayor’s Action Center” in South Bend city government. It was an ombudsman office for citizens with needs and complaints concerning city government. One of the most gratifying gestures to Marlene was when South Bend firefighters made her honorary “Chief Marlene” of the fire department. She maintained a special bond with firefighters throughout her time in government service.
From 19?? through 1980 Marlene ran the District Office of Congressman John Brademas, who had risen to the post of Majority Whip of the United States Congress, the third most important position in the Congress.
Also, during that period, in 1978, Marlene married Doug Hunt, whom she had known since their time in the 1971 city elections. They were married on July 4, a date which seemed destined to be a measure of deep meaning in Marlene’s life. Doug had been elected to the Indiana State Senate in 1976 and was re-elected to that post four times, with the active involvement of Marlene. Marlene and Doug maintained an active role in political and cultural activities in St Joseph County and beyond. Marlene was involved in the presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Marlene was a tireless worker for the mayoral election of Joe Kernan. Marlene and Doug and Marlene’s daughter, Cindy, became active in the Snite Museum of Notre Dame, continuing a lifelong love for Notre Dame. Marlene also served during that time in a number of board and committee memberships, including the St. Joseph County Park Board and the Board of the Potawatomi Zoo.
Doug served for five terms in the Indiana State Senate during this time, choosing not to run in the 1996 campaign. During his term of service in the Senate, a part time position, Doug and Marlene ran the Gallery 100 in Mishawaka, which further involved them in the local arts community. Doug subsequently became a partner at Holladay Properties, the real estate development firm headquartered in South Bend.
Marlene’s home was a gathering place over the years for social and political events known throughout the community. One of the measures of her hospitality was the diversity of guests, the warmth of the conversations and the plenitude of food. The annual 4th of July party at Marlene’s was a fixture for Marlene’s good friends from politics and the arts in the South Bend community.
After Doug and Marlene bought a home in Tucson in 2007, Marlene spent much of her time there. Marlene’s family had lived in Arizona for many years and during the years of their marriage, Marlene, Doug and David and Cindy developed a love of Tucson and closeness to their Arizona family. Marlene loved hosting guests from South Bend in her Tucson home and maintained the same tradition of deep personal warmth and abundance of food as hallmarks of gatherings in her home.
It was in Tucson that Marlene passed away on January 30th, after a brief illness, of complications from pneumonia.
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As noted, July 4 plays a special role in Marlene’s life. Not simply that she was born on that date, nor that she and Doug were married on that date. It was as if her incredible love of country, her love for life and friendship, her love of Doug all aligned on that one day.
The joyous and gentle ripples of love from the soul and life of Marlene spread outward and forever.
TRIBUTES
U.S. SENATOR JOE DONNELLY
"Marlene was my dear friend, who I got to know through her dedication to making the lives of Hoosiers better. She was a tireless public servant, working for Congressman Brademas and on many campaigns and at national conventions. Jill and I extend our deepest sympathies to Doug, Cindy, and the rest of the Hunt family, who will remain in our prayers. I will miss Marlene very much.”
JOE KERNAN
“Maggie and I have many fond memories with Doug and Marlene. The one I remember the most when we were having dinner one evening in late 1986. Marlene suggested that I run for Mayor in the election of 1987.
“Had she not, I am not sure that it would have ever happened. Marlene had a passion for public service, and was not only a great supporter, but also a dear friend.
“Marlene was in a league of her own when it came to good government and good politics.”
ROGER PARENT
"I met Marlene Hunt when planning my very first political campaign for the South Bend City Council in 1971. She was an essential part of all my campaigns since, twice for Mayor, and even from her home in Tucson when I ran for the South Bend school board. Marlene had very high standards for all politicians and made sure they held on to them while in office."
FRANK SULLIVAN
"Marlene Hunt was a committed and wonderful person, at once unshakeable in her passion for political causes and inexhaustible in her warmth and generosity. She will be remembered for her hard work for what she believed in, and even more for her unfailing kindness." Frank Sullivan, Jr., knew Marlene Hunt for more than 40 years. They worked together on the staff of former U.S. Rep. John Brademas. Sullivan, now a professor at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, is a former Indiana Supreme Court justice and state budget director.
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CHERYL SULLIVAN
"A tireless advocate not only for the arts, but for the working men and women and for people with disabilities. We learned from Marlene the real meaning of passion for one's work." Cheryl Sullivan knew Marlene Hunt for more than 40 years. They worked on numerous political campaigns together. Sullivan is the former Secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and now the CEO of the American Academy of Nursing.
What’s your fondest memory of Marlene?
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