Robert Charles Hughes

Bob was a deeply caring and generous man, quick with wit, and unwavering in his love for family. Devoted husband of nearly 51 years to his lifelong sweetheart, Sandra – his soulmate, to whom he gave everything and more when she needed it most. Deeply dedicated father, resident storyteller, linguist, and steadfast warrior (and worrier) for his children, Bridget (Matt Harty), Timothy (Liz), and Brendan (Jennifer), and big brother to Charlene, Charlie, Marybeth, and Joey. Known to his ten grandchildren as “Bobby,” he was a gift-giver extraordinaire, bingo caller, magician, and doting grandfather. He always celebrated them with spirited “Tanti Auguri” birthday greetings and lavished them with unconditional love.

Bob cherished boisterous family gatherings and heartfelt toasts, replete with Latin phrases and literary references, reminding everyone that life is a gift from God to be both enjoyed and earned. He loved a clever pun, revered the written word (preferably Shakespeare or Mark Twain, though his own poems will do), and relished extraordinary scotch. Born and raised in Rhode Island, he had a subtle Rhody accent that grew more pronounced during his lively storytelling.

He was a distinguished Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and an accomplished military and liberal arts academic, long-serving as Dean of Faculty at the National War College and teaching at various colleges and universities, including the U.S. Air Force Academy. He held a B.S. in philosophy from Our Lady of Providence College, an M.A. in linguistics and medieval studies from the University of Rhode Island, and a Ph.D. in literature and linguistics from Catholic University, with additional graduate studies in linguistics at Georgetown University. True to his literary roots, he proposed to his beloved Sandra on Shakespeare’s birthday.

During his 26 years with the Air Force, he thrived in a host of assignments with the Inter-American Defense College, the Air Staff, the Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels, Belgium, where he focused on the Strategic Defense Initiative, among other things. Bob was twice awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal and retired with the Legion of Merit. After his military service, Bob applied his expertise to create executive leadership programs. Serving as President and CEO of the National Institute for School Leadership, Bob helped create one of the most widely used professional learning programs for school leaders in the country.

Bobby’s humor, generosity, and vigor will be greatly missed in the daily lives of his family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sandra Ann Hughes Scholarship Fund (gprep.org/giving/endowment), a scholarship for students of military families, or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls.org). A Requiem Mass will be held on Friday, November 22 at 1 p.m. at Georgetown Preparatory School, the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, followed by a reception to celebrate a life well-lived and his reunion in heaven with Sandra.