Huntington Eldridge Jr. died June 10, 2016, after a valiant six-month battle against cancer. He was 65.

 

Huntington, who was known as Hunt, was born on November 1, 1950, in Lake Forest, IL, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Huntington Eldridge (Barbara Buchanan). He attended Avon Old Farms School in Avon, CT, and was a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. Following college, Hunt worked in the bond department of The Northern Trust Bank in Chicago. In 1983, he married the former Deborah West, with whom he raised two children, Huntington III and Hope Marie.

 

Hunt enjoyed an active life, playing squash, golf, and tennis; as well as fly fishing and bird hunting, often at his beloved Coleman Lake Club in northern Wisconsin. He spent many happy summers and autumns with his family and friends on Oconomowoc Lake, WI, near his family’s ancestral home on Buchanan’s Point. An avid outdoorsman and conservationist, Hunt became the director of development of Ducks Unlimited, and worked tirelessly raising funds for the preservation of wetlands and wetland waterfowl. He was also a longstanding and loyal member of the Onwentsia Club, the Racquet Club of Chicago, the Rolling Rock Club, and the Coleman Lake Club.

 

Hunt is survived by his children and former wife; his second wife, Wendy Eldridge, née Dearholt, and her children and grandchildren; his siblings, Peter and Anne Eldridge; brother-in-law, Cap Kane; cousin Kenneth Buchanan and his wife, Holly Rothschild; nieces Margaux and McKenzie Buchanan; cousin Reed Buchanan Berkey and her children, John and Perrin Berkey.

 

Many organizations and institutions in Chicago, Lake Forest and Milwaukee benefited from Hunt’s philanthropy. His wit and charm, his indefatigable work ethic and his unstinting generosity will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. His loyal friendships and dedication to family will be forever remembered. Hunt was a true gentleman.