Charles H. McHugh

Thanks Grandpa for showing us what is so incredibly special about the forests and rivers and mountains.

Charlie and I became friends shortly after we started our studies at Columbia Law School in September, 1939. The week we started shook the world when Hitler invaded Poland to start WW II.

In 1946 through Charlie and his sister Connie Tangey I meet an attractive war widow from the State of Washington. In December, 1946 we married, Charlie was an usher, and lived happily together until two years ago when my wife died.

We kept in touch to continue our friendship after I moved to Seattle in 1950. Over the years I made many business trips to New York and New England. To those trips I tacked on visits to Springfield or thereabouts for lunches or dinners and delightful conversations with Charlie.

For 71 years Charlie remained a close and favorite friend, a keen observer of contemporary life, and a staunch University of Michigan wolverine.

With deep personal grief I send to the McHugh family my sympathy and condolences.

Charlie, "Rest your oar."

"""Mr. McHugh"""" was amazing,as a student 1971, at S.H.S he truly showed us many way's to learn of politic's and understanding of the era we were living in what a very loved and respected man he was for our class.

"Mr.McHugh" was an extraordinary teacher who touched the lives of many students, including mine. In the spring of 1974, when I was a senior, he had a TV rolled into the classroom every day so we could watch the Watergate hearings -- "This is more important than anything I could teach you." May he rest in peace.

The one thing I remember about Mr. McHugh as a teacher at SHS, was the day taught our class how to read the New York Times as if we were on the subway. Up until his death, my father in law, Doug Seymour would take him the NYT every Sunday! He will truly be missed.

Charlie was a friend, a mentor, a leader, and a wonderful example for so many teachers. I remember being able to turn to him as a new teacher, throughout my teaching career, and when I was retiring. He will be remembered and missed.

My father Byron Crane and Charles were first cousins. Their relationship goes back to the thirties when they met at family gatherings. Molly McHugh, Charles' aunt and my father helped Charles find a place to live in Ann Arbor as a freshman at University of Michigan. They stayed in touch through the years, last talking over the phone just a couple months ago.

Charles will be missed by his cousins in Michigan, Mary Ellen and Byron Crane

Charlie maintained his phenomenal memory up to the very end.
He was happy to have company- and certainly was a superb conversationalist.
We have lost a wonderful mind!

Charles was an extraordinary man. An intelligent, kind and compassionate soul. I will miss him dearly. My deepest sympathy goes to his family.

Mr McHugh was one of the most influential teachers I had and I have thought of him very fondly over the years. It didn't matter what the course was he was teaching (I had him for three), the message and the humor was the same :) What a wonderful mind this world has lost...

My deepest sympathy to Charlie's family. I was a secretary at Springfield H.S. when he was teaching there. He was "one of a kind", heavily involved in whatever issues were at hand, standing up for what was right. Charlie will be deeply missed. Hold fast to all your wonderful memories.