Michael Hughes

Michael (Mike) D. Hughes, 73, of Brigantine, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on January 2nd, following a courageous nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carol (Walborn) Hughes, and their three children, Beth (Hughes) McCarter, Ali (Hughes) Rossi, and Jeff Hughes, along with their families: Kyle McCarter, Emily McCarter, AJ McCarter, Owen McCarter, Joe Rossi, Siena Rossi, Adriana Rossi, Leo Rossi, Marcela (Grajales) Hughes, Maya Hughes, and Luca Hughes. He is also survived by his sister, Kathleen (Hughes) Manzella.
Mike was born on May 13, 1951, in Temple, Pennsylvania, to Carl and Dorothy Hughes. He attended Muhlenberg High School, where he met his future wife, Carol, and stood out as a talented basketball player. As captain of the 1969 Berks County Championship team, Mike led in both scoring and rebounds. A dedicated student, Mike was also a member of the National Honor Society. In recognition of his athletic and scholastic accomplishments, Mike was inducted into the Muhlenberg High School Hall of Fame in 2020. After high school, he went on to major in economics at Albright College, financing his education by working evenings at a local grocery store.
Upon graduating from Albright in 1972, Mike embarked on a successful career in the insurance industry. After several years with Travelers Insurance Company, he spent nearly four decades at Essick & Barr Insurance Agency, where he rose to the position of partner. In addition to his professional achievements, Mike was deeply committed to his community. He spent countless hours coaching basketball and soccer teams for his children, serving on various boards including the Muhlenberg Community Library, Muhlenberg Township Parks and Recreation, and the Reading Musical Foundation, and contributing as an active member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Council.
Mike retired in 2012, and in his post-retirement years, he found joy in the simple pleasures of life: watching sunrises and sunsets on the beaches of Brigantine, NJ, and Indian Rocks Beach, FL, spending time organizing his impeccably neat garage, carefully washing and detailing his cars, painting seashells for his grandchildren, and taking long bike rides and walks along the shore with Carol.
Above all, Mike was a caring husband and father, demonstrating his love for those closest to him through selfless acts of service. He was always there when it mattered most, offering encouragement, wisdom, and support. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of life service will be held for family and friends in the Philadelphia area at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: https://PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).org