Louis J. Hutchinson II

Louis J. Hutchinson, II’s Story Louis Johnny Hutchinson, II (nicknamed Bouchie) was born in Charleston, South Carolina on April 16th, 1944, and departed July 7, 2023, at 3:31PM, in Washington, DC at the Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. He was 79 years young. As the oldest of 11 children, in 1952 Louis’ family migrated when he was 8 years old from Charleston and Edisto South Carolina to Harlem New York. It was at an early age that he excelled academically and pursued his passion of playing baseball. As a gifted student in the 9th grade, Louis got one question wrong on the SAT. Through his teenage years his passion in sports moved from baseball to basketball, and he worked hard starting basketball late, to leapfrog many that played for years prior. He played as a point guard on teams that excelled in national tournaments, and the local Rutgers tournament. In a short period of time, when others stayed inside because of the extensive winter snow on the basketball courts, Louis would go outside and shovel the snow to practice his basketball relentlessly in freezing temperatures; he showed extreme determination that carried him throughout his life. He would even go on to lead and to coach a team called the United Five that would become one of the best teams in New York City in the late 50’s and early 60s. Early in his teenage years at 16 years old, he met his life partner and wife Roberta A. Hutchinson who lived across the street on Boston Road. He was a year older. They were both so shy that they met and really liked each other but barely talked, only saying hello for a year before he finally mustered up the courage to say more. To ask Roberta to go with him, to be his girlfriend, to fall in love. They both came from homes that emphasized the importance of family. In humble surroundings, Louis, living in a two-bedroom apartment with 9 kids, and Roberta living in a two-bedroom apartment with 6 kids would go on to dream, and push, and encourage one another. He graduated from Samuel Gompers High School in the Bronx, and Roberta graduated from Grace Dodge High School in the Bronx. At 21 and 20 years old, they were married in June of 1965. They would also welcome the birth of their first child Louis III in September of 1965. Shortly after they would move to Davidson Ave. in the Bronx, New York where they would have their second child Shane’t, in 1967. In 1968, Louis and Roberta went on to college at SUNY Old Westbury, living in Planting Fields in Oyster Bay, New York where he studied Philosophy, and she studied Bookkeeping and Accounting. During this time, they would also live on the Old Westbury campus in Old Westbury, New York, where they would have their third child Kim, in 1970. They would go on to build a life together and on June 1, 2023, was their 58th wedding anniversary. Shortly after leaving SUNY Old Westbury in 1974, Louis and Roberta moved their family for a year to Rego-Park in Queens, New York, to save money toward purchasing a home in Freeport, New York. A home that they still own today. In the early years in Freeport, (approximately 1975) Louis started working at the Lower East Side Counseling Center in Manhattan, New York. While at the Lower East Side Counseling Center, Louis continued his education at Fordham University where he graduated with a master’s in philosophy and Social Work in 1980. Shortly after graduating and still at the Lower East Side Counseling Center in Manhattan, Louis received his license as a Psychotherapist. During this time Louis also served on the Board of Directors for the Freeport Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In 1982 Louis moved from the Lower East Side Counseling Center to head up the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Glen Cove, New York. The EEOC in Glen Cove allowed Louis to fulfill a passion to make a difference by establishing and providing counseling, economic, financial, social, and athletic programs that would impact an entire community for generations. In 1990 Louis would move from the EEOC in Glen Cove to focus on two passions, counseling and teaching the game of tennis. By 1990 Louis became an Independent Psychotherapist providing individual and family counseling at the Alliance Counseling Center in Hempstead, New York while also being fully engaged in his passion to teach the game of tennis to all ages as an established United States Tennis Association (USTA) Instructor. Back in 1970 while playing basketball at SUNY Old Westbury University, Louis was introduced to the game of tennis, and he became passionate about the game. And like basketball before tennis, he became an absolute advocate and student of the game. By 1974 he began to teach each of his children tennis, Louis III at 9, Shane’t at 7, and Kim at 4. Louis III would go on to play D1 College Tennis at the George Washington University, Shane’t would play Tennis in the U.S. Junior Olympics, and as early as the 7th grade Kim would play varsity tennis at Freeport High School. Lou would go on to coach over 40 teams winning State and Regional Championships, and taking them as far as USTA National events, around the country. Lou coached hundreds of players of all age groups, abilities, and disabilities; many of which went on to be regionally and nationally ranked, play college tennis, and some played on the professional circuit. For almost 50 years, at 79 years old, Lou kept a rigorous schedule, still teaching tennis. But most important to Lou was that his teams were establishing lifelong relationships and bonds. Most important to Lou was that he was instilling confidence in others. Most important to Lou was that he was making a difference in the lives of those he taught and those he coached. Later in life Louis would go on to be baptized at the Bridge Church in Malverne, New York, where he would publicly proclaim Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Where he would passionately participate in Bible Study and the Prayer Ministry. As much as he loved tennis nothing came before Bible Study. There was nothing that Louis would not do for his family. At 36 years old, to give his children an example of toughness and perseverance he ran 26 miles in the New York City Marathon, and after cramping at the 16th mile, he walked with excruciating pain and cramps for ten miles until he was finished. Louis was tenacious. Louis did it his way. Louis was passionate. Louis was relentless. Louis fought the good fight, Louis finished the race, Louis kept the faith. He was predeceased by his father Louis J. Hutchinson, his mother Rinnah T. Hutchinson, and his brothers Lenell J. Hutchinson, and Amichai Hutchinson. He is survived by his wife Roberta A. Hutchinson, his Son Rev. Dr. Louis J. Hutchinson, III (Rev. Dr. Demetra), his Daughter Shane’t S. Hutchinson, and his Daughter Rev. Kim Hutchinson. His Grand Children, Tirrell A. Hutchinson (Shane’t), Danielle Hutchinson (Shane’t), Naya A. Hutchinson (Louis, III), and Louis J. Hutchinson, IV (Louis, III). Siblings, Walter J. Hutchinson (Kim), Bernard T. Hutchinson (Gladys), Sheila T. Bryant, Kenny R. Hutchinson, Calvin L. Hutchinson, Selene S. Swain (Domenico), Renee D. Hutchinson, and Andre R. Hutchinson (Shonta). He is also survived by aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, a host of over 100 nieces and nephews, friends, and colleagues, and all those he met, loved, and touched.

Louis J. Hutchinson II

April 16, 1944 - July 7, 2023