Arthur Herbert HUGHES

March 8, 1935 - November 18, 2025 Arthur Hughes has passed away. He was a man of great passion-for life, for people, and for the possibility of a better world. He was always optimistic that humanity will find better ways to live together - and had many ideas about how this could happen. Arthur was born in Bournemouth, England. At two, the family moved to Kingston, Jamaica - he always considered himself Jamaican. His father was a tall Englishman; his mother, a dynamic and proud Jamaican. Jamaica was an island paradise to him - the music, the food, swimming in the ocean, and movies every week. He loved his four sisters, who were always there for him. After graduating from Kingston College, Arthur longed to see more of the world, and joined the British Army in 1953. He served in Germany as a sapper and physical fitness instructor. After three years in Europe, Arthur decided to continue his adventure in Canada. Shortly after arriving in Toronto, he met Mary Grant, a young woman from a large Scottish family in Orillia. Art and Mary very quickly fell in love, and were married in 1957. They began their life together in Toronto - Archie and Nancy were born soon after. While working full-time, Arthur studied at night to become a Chartered Accountant, earning his CA designation in 1964. Eager to share tropical life with his new family, Arthur accepted a position with the Jamaica Telephone Company, and the family moved to Kingston in 1964. There was swimming in the ocean on weekends, and dancing at night to ska and rocksteady. After four memorable years in Jamaica, they returned to Canada, living in Belleville, and later Mississauga. Eventually, Art and Mary settled into a south-facing 18th-floor condo beside Maple Leaf Gardens-a place they loved for its lively downtown energy and beautiful view. Arthur continued as a financial executive with several companies, especially WorkWear, where he served as CFO, and deeply valued the people he worked with. He retired at age 65, and Mary, an insurance underwriter, retired the following year. Together, they enjoyed a long and happy retirement filled with long walks in the city, meeting with friends, gardening, and travelling to England, Scotland, Spain, France, Italy, and the Caribbean Islands. Arthur was always athletic, and excelled at tennis, playing well into his 70s… his backhand was formidable. In retirement, Arthur wrote and self-published several novels. He remained steadfast in his belief that the world could be a better place, and was particularly concerned with climate change, and political polarization. His books were written mainly for younger readers to present a hopeful vision of global cooperation. The books are on Amazon - just search for Arthur H Hughes. Mary passed away in the fall of 2023 at the age of 88. Arthur continued living independently until a serious stroke in January 2025. Arthur will be lovingly remembered by his children, Archie and Nancy; his granddaughter, Amanda; his sisters, Vilma, Lorna, and Sandra; Mary's siblings-Jean, Lorna, Judy, Carol, Heather, and David-and all of their families. He will not be forgotten. He will be laid to rest with his beloved wife, Mary, in the cemetery of the Old Stone Church near Beaverton, Ontario.