Rear-Admiral (Ret’d) RCN, CF
Died on 11 July 2013, his ten-year battle with multiple myeloma cancer ended. Born 24 Oct 1927 in Quetta, India. The Admiral was very proud of his family’s military heritage as the son of the late LCol. L.M. Hughes, RCHA, and the late Betty Hughes (Gray of Victoria). Grandson of the late BGen. William St. Pierre, PWOR (CO 21st Battalion CEF). Survived by his wife of almost sixty-two years, his everlasting friend and joy, Miriam (nee Carter); by sons Laughlin and Roderick (Barbara); granddaughters Jessica, Amy, Diana, and Victoria and great-grandson Owen. Also, brother BGen. Robin L. Hughes (Ret’d)(Diana), Jack M. Hughes (Susan). Pre-deceased by his sister Ann Carmichael. Raised in Kingston, ON he was a Wolf Cub, Boy Scout, Sea Scout, and Sea Cadet. Admiral Hughes entered Royal Roads Naval College in 1944 to start his thirty-eight year naval career. He served in ten RCN ships, five RN, and one USN submarine. He served in HMCS SIOUX during the Korean War. The Admiral served in eighteen shore establishments and Headquarters. During this period, he visited sixty countries, all Canada’s provinces, and twenty-seven US states. The Admiral never stopped loving the Navy, its sailors, and fellow officers. He was proud of his sea-going commands HMCS BEACON HILL, HMCS GATINEAU, and the 1St and 5th Destroyer Squadrons. He retired as the Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific, and to make a political point he was rowed ashore in a navy blue Admiral’s uniform, not a CF green uniform. In retirement, he and Miriam moved to the Bahamas for a four-year adventure before returning to Victoria, BC. Tennis, investing, and philanthropy were his interests in retirement. In 2012, the Admiral was awarded the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service for his work creating the Naval Memorial Window for the RCN’s Centenary in 2010. A special thanks goes to the Admiral’s excellent oncologist Dr. Adrian Yee, the compassionate care of our family physician, Dr. Elizabeth Grant and the professional and sensitive staff of Victoria Hospice for making the final days so comfortable.
A service of remembrance will be held at St. Peter and Paul Naval and Garrison Church, 1379 Esquimalt Rd, on Saturday July 20, 2013 at 11:00 am. A reception will follow at the Wardroom, CFB Esquimalt. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the B.C. Cancer Foundation, 2410 Lee Ave., Victoria, B.C. V8R 6V5 for research into a cure for multiple myeloma. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Directors
27 Responses
Bill was a wonderful, accomplished and kind person who will be missed by all. Our prayers and sympathies go out to his family and his lovely wife Miriam.
With love – Nicola, Colin, Adrienne & Christina
Dear Miriam and family
It was will great sadness I read of Bill’s passing. Bill was a great friend of my parents Helen and Roy Denny and I knew him through them.
My sincere thoughts and love to you all at this sad time.
Much love, Sue McGorman (nee Denny)
Sincere condolences on the passing of one of RCN’s finest. Although having Bill as a first C.O. in Gatineau as a new “subbie” jolining the fleet out of RMC was somewhat of a rude awakening (as he was a hard task master!), he taught us well (mostly by demonstration) and launched many of us on to successful careers of our own. There are too many stories to tell here, but suffice it to say that his contributions to the navy will live on through the anecdotes of those fellow officers who remain.
I am very sorry for your families loss. It was nice to have met and know you even for just a little while. Thinking of you Miriam and family during these hard times.
I regret I sent Bill a card on the weekend, unaware of his passing. I was honoured that he and his good wife attended Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver for dedication of two naval windows that I contributed for the naval centennial. The window Bill organized for St Paul’s was wonderful. He had a marvellous career and life and I offer my prayers and thanks for the whole family as you mourn his death while celebrating his good life.
Archdeacon Ronald Harrison
Miriam and Rod, I would like to offer you my deepest sympathy for your loss. I admired the Admiral very much and felt it to be a great privilege to have known him. May he rest in peace.
I was Bill’s X.O in HMCS Gatineau many years ago.
Of some eighteen C.O. s that I had in my career he
was the best. Competent but compassionate. Miriam,
the only thing not mentioned in the obit was his hobby
of bird watching. When things got tense on the bridge.
we always were able to find a new bird with our
binoculars and calm things down.
My condolences,
Jack
Hello Rod – I remember your Dad so fondly. He gave me a real hand when I took over the RRU Foundation office. He always had great charm and good advice whenever we met. Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss.
Sharon Gillean
In 2007 I lost both my parents in March. Mother died at age 90 and my father age 94. Loss of a person is difficult no matter how old they are. My thoughts are with you.
– John Hungar
My Uncle Bill; Admiral Hughes, will always have my love and admiration with fond memories. My deepest regrets to my Aunt Miriam in her great loss. On Saturday July 20th at 11:00 am I will be with you in heart. Love, Miriam & Bill