On December 16th, 2024, Benjamin Valentine Hutchinson took his own life. His loss has struck his family, friends and the wide community of those who loved him very hard, but they are united in celebrating his life.
Ben was 22 years old, born on June 23, 2002, the second of two children to Vivi Valentine and William “Hutch” Hutchinson. He was raised in Jamestown and loved the island dearly. He grew up on Cottrell Farm, where from a young age he explored the property. A modern-day Huck Finn – long-haired and slightly wild – Ben often surprised visitors on the farm with a live snake or frog. Ben reveled in the traditions of the island, including one year when he attended the annual tree lighting ceremony dressed as Santa with a sack of toys and walked in on an a cappella group singing “The Man with the Bag” and gave a dramatic bow.
Ben was a voracious reader from a young age, tucked away in various nooks around the house (or sometimes up in trees) traveling to other countries and other worlds through the wonder of books. When he wasn’t deep in a book Ben spent summers at Circus Smirkus Camp in Vermont engaged in all manner of lively activities and it was not unusual when you visited the farm to see Ben zoom by on his unicycle. As he grew older he developed a deep love of music and movies and enjoyed watching and rewatching his favorite films with friends and family…