06/06/2025
With great sadness that I announce the passing of David C. Hitchcock on April 24, 2025, at his home in Portland, ME.
David Hitchcock was a devoted art collector and philanthropist whose life was deeply intertwined with the cultural fabric of Maine. Raised in Mars Hill, he was the son of Carl and Alice (Graves) Hitchcock. David’s passion for art was evident in his extensive collection, particularly the Carl and Alice (Graves) Hitchcock Collection (named in memory of David's parents), comprising over 400 works of art. This collection, which he generously placed on long-term loan to the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) beginning in 1995, includes works by important artists from Maine and the rest of the world. His intent was that the collection be shared with the UMPI community as well as residents of and visitors to Aroostook County. In 2023 he made the Collection a permanent gift to the University.
I first got to know David Hitchcock through almost daily emails that began shortly after I assumed the role of director of the Reed Art Gallery in 2019. I began researching the history of the Hitchcock Collection and immersing myself into the hundreds of artworks that David had collected over several decades. His passion for art and the artists who create it was apparent immediately. He would often send me emails requesting a photo of a specific piece in the collection or with an interesting anecdote about one of the many artists that he knew so well or the background and history of a certain painting or sculpture. He would suggest ideas for exhibitions and tell me of his dream of establishing a small art museum in his hometown of Mars Hill. David took a keen interest in the Reed Gallery and would sometimes send friends to visit the exhibitions. He would later contact me to tell me how pleased he was with the way that the works in his collection were being displayed.
David’s commitment to the arts extended beyond his collection. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of art and artists, especially artists from Maine, including Eric Hopkins, Natasha Mayers, Edwin Gable, John Swan, Thomas Nadeau, Ellen Gutekunst, Frederick Lynch, Michael Vermette, and more, many of whom he knew personally and collected their work throughout their careers. Even in recent years he continued to support young artists and always took an interest in their work. Last year he purchased a large sculpture from 2020 UMPI graduate Brianna Gerrish for our collection.
His art collection was an important part of his legacy, and he continually reminded me how important it was to him that the work be available and accessible for both study and enjoyment by the University of Maine at Presque Isle community and all the people of northern Maine. I was fortunate to visit with David a few times at his home in Portland, which was filled with beautiful works of art. I always left with my vehicle loaded up with more artwork that he wanted to add to our collection.
David Hitchcock’s unwavering dedication to the Fine Arts and his community serves as a testament to the profound impact one individual can have in nurturing and preserving cultural heritage. It was an honor and a privilege to have gotten to know him over the past five years, and I will always be immensely grateful for his immeasurable contributions to arts and to the University.
This Summer, the Reed Art Gallery will be presenting an exhibition of some of David’s favorite pieces in the Collection as tribute to his legacy and his invaluable contributions to the arts in Maine. More details to come.
Frank Sullivan
Director, Reed Art Gallery
University of Maine at Presque Isle
image: "Portrait of David Hitchcock" (detail) by John Sawn, oil on canvas, 1990, Carl and Alice (Graves) Hitchcock Collection
