Author Hughes Jr.

1929 - 2015

CARLSBAD Dr. Author ""Art"" Hughes Jr. died peacefully at home on Sunday, September 6, 2015 in Carlsbad, CA at the age of 85, surrounded by his family. Art is survived by his wife, Marge, and children, Greg, Tim, John, and Susan who remember him as a loving father who encouraged them each to pursue their goals.

Our father was born on November 4, 1929 in Hoopeston, IL to Author Ernest and Nora (Cleveland) Hughes. He was the youngest of four children. Sadly, his mother died when he was only two years old, but his father remarried Marie Kuss when he was in high school. Marie was a most loving and caring stepmother to him-he always remembered her wonderful cooking and baking, as well as the argyle sox she knitted for him.

Art graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1951 with a B. S. in Ed., and taught one year in a very small town near his hometown. Deciding to move West, he attended and earned a Master's Degree in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. During this time he was teaching in high schools in Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs.

However, in 1956 he was invited to return to his alma mater, E. I. U., in Charleston, IL to teach in the Business Department there. By chance he found out that a girl he had dated in college was single and teaching in a high school only 100 miles away. So Daddy and our mother, Marjorie Ann (Marge) Herman, were married a year later in her hometown, Olney, IL. They just celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary this past August.

Art and Marge moved to Iowa City, IO so that he could complete his education with a Ph. D. in Accounting and Data Processing from The State University of Iowa. He taught one year at Shippensburg State College in PA and ten years at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. During this time their four children were born: Greg, Tim, John, and Susan.

In l971 Art was invited to become President of the University of San Diego, where he remained until his retirement in 1995. He was the first lay president of San Diego's private, Catholic university. He had an amazing team of administrators, and together with outstanding faculty members, they built USD into a very successful values-based institution. He had a passionate commitment for building an educational system in which everyone had access to a quality college education, irrespective of one's financial circumstances. Our father always said that he was SO fortunate in that he absolutely loved going to work each day!

As an involved San Diego citizen, Art has actively participated as a director in a variety of business and community enterprises; for example: Union Bank of California, San Diego Chamber of Commerce, United Way of San Diego, Mingei International Museum, San Diego Symphony Association, The American Cancer Society, White House Fellowship Commission, Energy 2000, San Diego Charter Review, and Scripps-Mercy Hospital Foundation. First and foremost, he was a dedicated member of his parish church community-after retirement, All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla.

Art was the recipient of the National Conference of Christians and Jews Regional Brotherhood Award and the S. D. World Affairs Council International Citizen Award. He held honorary degrees from Chapman College, Dominican College, Eastern Illinois University, and the University of San Diego. In 2003, he received the Fr. Theodore Hesburgh Award presented by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities for leadership in Catholic higher education, and in recognition as his being one of the first Catholic laymen presidents of a doctorate-granting university in the United States.

Through the years Art's favorite avocations have included sailing, tennis, traveling, music, community service, camping, gardening, church activities, fly fishing, family, and friends. Dad and Mom always worked together as a team, sharing life's joys, challenges, opportunities, and heartaches. And hand in hand, they now have parted as soul mates, who truly believe they will be together once again. Besides Marge, his children and their spouses, Art is survived by their nine grandchildren: Brett, Katy, Corey, Elton, Bryson, Colin, Tyler, Ryan, and Johnny. ---- ""We know we had the best, and we will always have you in our hearts!""

A funeral is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2015, 10:30 a.m. at The Immaculata Church on the University of San Diego campus. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Art's wonderful life. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that a donation be made to the University of San Diego Scholarship Fund at: Office of Annual Giving, 5998 Alcala' Park, San Diego, CA 92110 or online at http://www.sandiego.edu/giving. Please sign the Guest Book online obituaries.utsandiego.com