Michael "Mickey" J. Hutter, 86, died on Feb. 20 at Newton & Wellesley Alzheimer's Center in Wellesley, Mass. He was formerly a resident of Mount Vernon for 28 years.
Born on Dec. 28, 1920 in New York City, he was the son of Michael L. and Margaret Hutter. He attended St. Francis College, N.Y. and received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Long Island University.
While at St. Francis College he started his aviation career in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. In 1941, prior to Pearl Harbor, he entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and received his wings and commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in May 1942. He was a combat veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific, and the Korean War. He was a member of the fabled VMSB-241, and flew as a member of VMSB-234, VMR-152, among other squadrons. He served as Commanding Officer of VMSB-932 and MABS-35. He retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of Colonel on Sept. 1, 1978.
Upon leaving active duty with the Marine Corps in 1955, Col. Hutter flew for Seaboard World Airlines and Colonial Airlines. He then joined Grumman Corporation in Bethpage, N.Y. in 1957, where he was employed for 30 years. He played a major role in the development and introduction of the carrier-based Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Warfare E-2 programs and transportation C-2 program. In 1974, he was transferred to Grumman's Washington, D.C., office where he held the position of Director, Marine Corps operations until his retirement in 1990. In 1986, he received the Chief of Naval Operations Meritorious Civilian Medal for his support of naval aviation.
Col. Hutter was a lifetime member of the Navy League, serving as its president; Marine Corps Aviation Association, serving as its National Commander; Marine Corps Association, serving as a member of its Executive Committee; and the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association. He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the Marine Corps Scholarship program, working tirelessly in support of its efforts to provide scholarship assistance to the children of Marines killed or wounded in action.
Col. Hutter is surivived by his wife of 62 years Wilma (Kinsey), and his two sons, Michael J. Hutter Jr. and his wife Kathleen, of Delmar, N.Y.; and Dr. Jeffrey W. Hutter and his wife Kathleen, of Newton Centre, Mass.; his five grandchildren: Elizabeth, Tiffany Rinehimer, Lynne, Susan and Jeffrey; and his three great-grandchildren: Madeline, Sadie and Hogan Rinehimer.