J. Stanford Hutcheson

J. Stanford Hutcheson of Chapel Hill, known to all as Stan, passed away at home on September 6, 2025, at the age of 85, at the end of a long and active life. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Genet Fishel Hutcheson; two sons, Burke (Serena) and Neal (Karen); and five grandchildren who all called him "Papa"--Jenna, Spence, Holly, Ben, and Frankie. 

Born to J. Stanford Hutcheson, Sr. and Jennie Belton Hutcheson on February 4th, 1940, Stan grew up in the Ardmore neighborhood of Winston Salem, a few houses away from Miller Park. After the tragic loss of his father on Christmas Day of 1955, Stan remained with his mother through his graduation from R.J. Reynolds High School in 1958, after which he left to study at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. As a child he had been awed by the gadgetry and inventions of a friend's father, and at university this interest grew into a passion for electrical engineering. In addition to his studies, Stan competed on the NC State diving team and was occasionally called in to step compete with the university swim team. The Hutchesons of Winston Salem were active in the Salem Moravian Church community, and it was at Ardmore Moravian that Stan met Genet Fishel, the love of his life, in 1959. The two married at Ardmore Moravian in June of 1964.

After graduation from NC State, Stan was hired as an electrical engineer at UNC, where he became known for his ingenuity and prolificacy in the invention, design, and implementation of medical technology. His portable blood pressure monitor, the first of its kind, was adopted for use by NASA and employed by astronauts on the Space Shuttle. Many other specialized devices, such as an instrument integral to treatment of patients with cleft palates, set the standard for the industry. Stan retired from UNC after 36 years, after which he ran a successful business for many years with his collaborator and friend, Richard Lutz. 

Stan and Genet have been inseparable companions and supported each other in their active family life, home projects, and many interests, including serving together for 49 years in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Stan had a remarkable acumen for design and construction, and he designed and implemented many home improvements that have stood the test of time. He was also an avid gardener and, together with Genet, maintained a large garden throughout his life. More than anything else, Stan preferred to be around the water and enjoyed boating and fishing. He taught his children to swim and fish (and waterski and play tennis and many other activities) and was similarly active in the lives of his grandchildren. Stan was a pillar of stability, self-assurance, and encouragement that supported the development and vitality of his growing family over the years. In turn, he took pride in the independence and many accomplishments of his children and grandchildren as adults. 

Stan enjoyed ACC Basketball and Major League Baseball and followed the Durham Bulls, often taking his children and grandchildren to the games at the Bull Athletic Park. He read engineering journals and fishing and wildlife magazines but also had a high esteem for Robert Ruark's The Old Man and the Boy, a classic treatise on man's affinity for nature, in which Stan could--one may presume--see himself reflected. Stan loved animals, both wild and domestic. He fed deer in his yard in Chapel Hill and gave them names over several generations. He enjoyed visits from the neighbor's chickens and shared house with a series of beloved dogs, including Rusty and Rascal.

Stan is remembered fondly for his warmth, sense of humor, rapport with nature, and love of family. He will be dearly missed.