Hubert J. Sebastian

Hubert J. Sebastian
November 3, 1921 ~ June 8, 2021
A Life of Volunteerism
Hubert J. Sebastian passed away peacefully at his longtime home in Wilton, Connecticut, on June 8, 2021, at the age of 99 1/2.
Hugh was born in Boston, Mass., on November 3, 1921, and grew up in Cambridge. He began his dedication to service at an early age, passing a Latin test to be named as an altar boy and devoting himself to Boy Scouts, where he quickly attained the highest rank of Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow. He would remain involved as a young man, creating a new troop at St. Paul's Parish in Harvard Square. He graduated from St. John's High School in North Cambridge.
Hugh joined the Navy at the outbreak of World War II, and after an assignment at the Naval hospital in Brooklyn, he went to sea on a newly commissioned submarine chaser. His first aid training learned as a Scout earned him the assignment of ship's medic, and he manned a battle station on the bridge where he saw action at Iwo Jima and other major battles of the South Pacific. He was discharged with the rank of Chief Pharmacist's Mate in 1946 and returned to work at Lever Brothers where he had been employed before the War.
Hugh worked his way from the mail room to the executive suite becoming one of the early pioneers of statistical methods for market research. His career took him from Boston to New York when Lever moved their headquarters, and that is where he met Ethel, his wife of 70 years. They were married in October 1951, and Hugh moved to C.E. Hooper. Son Donald was born in 1952 and daughter Kathleen in 1953. They began raising their family in Queens, N.Y. In 1958 he became Vice President for Market Research at Ted Bates & Co., the firm that served as a model for the popular TV show, Mad Men. The family moved to Wilton that year. Daughter Susan was born in Norwalk Hospital in 1960. After 12 years with Bates, he returned to Hooper, where he worked until his retirement.
From a young man until the time of his death, Hugh volunteered as an active leader in various civic groups. He continued his long association with the Boy Scouts as an adult, ultimately serving a term as President of MauwehuCouncil in the 1960's. He was awarded the Silver Beaver by the National Court of Honor, recognizing Scouters of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service within a council.
In the 1970's Hugh returned to the sea, joining the Saugatuck River Power Squadron, where he taught public seamanship courses for years while serving in leadership roles, including Squadron Commander, and continued to serve as Treasurer until his death. He was one of the few people to attain 50 merit marks for 50 years of service to the Squadron. He also joined US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 72 in 1972 and spent many years conducting courtesy safety audits for local boaters and patrolled Long Island Sound supporting search and rescue operations. He would serve as Commander while also developing public instruction and rose to positions leading instructor training. He was a fixture behind the scenes of the Flotilla's Norwalk Oyster Festival tent for more than forty years and continued to serve as Flotilla Treasurer until his death. Hugh was also an active member and past officer of VFW Post 603.
Hugh was preceded in death by his father, Alexander, his mother, Margaret, and younger brothers Paul and Donald. He is survived by his wife Ethel, son Donald Sebastian with his wife Catherine, and their children Caitlyn, Diana, and Christopher of Mendham, N.J., by his daughter Kathleen Sebastian of Seattle, Wash and his daughter Susan Lineberry, her husband Grant, and their son Jack of Naples, Fla. He is also survived by his sister, Doris of Natick, Mass. and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Friday, June 18, from 4 until 8 p.m. at Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Avenue, Norwalk, Conn. Latin High Mass will be said at St. Mary Church, 669 West Avenue, Norwalk, on Saturday, June 19, at 10 a.m. Hugh will be laid to rest with military honors at St. John Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Animals in Distress, 238 Danbury Road, Wilton.