Ian Huntress

Ian Davis Huntress, 27 years, 10 months, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 26, 2023 at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina following organ transplant complications.

Born in Fall River on May 26, 1995, he was the son of Gary B. Huntress and Cynthia D. Davis of Swansea and the husband of Leah M. Huntress of Raleigh, NC. He graduated from Joseph Case High School, Salutatorian of the Class of 2013 and earned a BS in Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY in 2017. Ian then joined Dr. Xinxia Peng’s lab, which he affectionately referred to as Pengtown, at North Carolina State University, where he was a listed author of several journal articles as he worked towards a PhD in Bioinformatics.

Ian had an inquisitive and brilliant mind and so many unique turns of phrase when he described things. He and Leah met at RPI and soon became a committed couple. He adored Leah and frequently expressed how grateful he was that she took care of him through so many medical challenges. She never left his side and was his strongest advocate when he was ill. They had a wide circle of friends and enjoyed online gaming, cooking, baking amazing desserts, reading and woodworking.

Besides his parents and wife, he is survived by a brother, Samuel Huntress and his wife Johanna Farkas, a sister Eleanor Huntress, in-laws, Jan and Nathan Halderman, brother-in-law, Jason Austin and his family, grandmother, Marilyn Huntress and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was the grandson of the late Charles and Doris Davis and the late Alan and Mildred Huntress.

His visiting hours will be Friday, April 7, 2023 from 3:00 – 7:00 PM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Road, Swansea followed by a Celebration of Life at 7:00 PM. Through the generosity of Lou and Mary Lou Provenzano, a perpetual scholarship is being created in memory of Ian’s passion for science, knowledge, and desire to help others.