Hugh Ambrose

Hugh Ambrose died peacefully on May 23, 2015, after a brief illness. One of America's premier historians, the 48 year-old Ambrose left the world too early but his impact on it changed the landscape of both the lives he touched and the causes about which he wrote and cared about so deeply. Ambrose spent much of his distinguished career bringing to life the stories of the people and places of World War II. His 2010 book, The Pacific, debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #7 and the book became a fixture on the Times' non-fiction list for much of that summer. The book was the basis for the highly acclaimed HBO miniseries of the same name on which Ambrose served as a consultant. Although not born in Montana, Hugh got here as quickly as he could. Growing up in New Orleans the youngest of five children, Hugh was introduced to Montana on regular family vacations to Big Sky Country, often in the overcrowded family Volkswagen bus, in search of a historical site or two to explore. After elementary school in the New Orleans public school system and high school in Ireland, Hugh made his way "home" to Montana at the age of 17 to study history at the University of Montana. Hugh met many of what were to be his lifelong friends during days spent skiing and during his summer job as a Red Jammer bus driver at Glacier National Park. After receiving both his bachelors and masters degrees in History from the University of Montana, Hugh's work as a historian, researcher and writer led him to other parts of the country, but Montana always remained home. Following his passion for the lives and stories of America's World War II veterans, Ambrose agreed to join the National World War II Museum in New Orleans as its Vice President of Development where he played a significant role in the expansion of what the United States Congress has officially declared as "America's National World War II Museum." For Hugh Ambrose, family was most important. He even listened to his mother during a trip home to New Orleans when she insisted that Hugh just had to meet Andrea Loiacano. That meeting would lead to marriage in 1999 to his best friend and mother of their two children; Elsie and Brody. His quiet strength, courage and deep commitment to friends, family and community are touchstones by which Hugh lived his life. These qualities and the power of his words telling the stories of American heroes and his work memorializing those stories through his leadership at the National World War II Museum leave the world a better place for his having been here with us in it. Hugh is survived by his wife Andrea and their two children Elizabeth (Elsie) Buckley Ambrose and Brody Eisenhower Ambrose, and by his siblings, Grace Ambrose Zaken (Benny), Andrew Ambrose, Stephanie Ambrose Tubbs (John) and Barry Ambrose (Celeste). He is preceded in death by his parents Stephen and Moira Ambrose. The family will begin receiving friends at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 28th with a Vigil service to be held at 4:00 p.m. at Saint Mary Catholic Community, 1700 Missoula Avenue. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 29th at Saint Mary Catholic Community. Rite of Committal will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. Donations honoring Hugh may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center via Fred's Team. www.memorialforhugh.com. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Hugh.