Daniel Francis McHugh

Daniel Francis McHugh age 88. A 33 year resident of Louisville, Kentucky, recently moved to Houston, passed away in Houston on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. He was a charter member of the Roanoke, Virginia “Knights of Columbus” Council 562, and a lifetime 4th degree K of C member. He also was a charter member of the Rutherford, North Carolina BPOE “Elks Lodge“ 2037. In Louisville he served for 30 years as a volunteer usher at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He also had been a board member of the Dream Factory, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, and Kentuckiana Mensa, for whom he handled the public relations while hosting its 1989 Louisville national convention. When active in American Mensa, he also served as its planned (charitable) gifts advisor. For ten years prior to his retirement, he published the “Endowment Builder”, an internationally distributed planned giving newsletter. In addition to his having been a member of “American Mensa”, he also was a member of the American Legion and the VFW. In 1955 he founded the Kentuckiana Chapter of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association., for which he served as Commanding Officer until his departure to Texas, in 2014. Dan was the youngest of seven children of Dr. and Mrs. Francis T. McHugh of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, six of whom served overseas during WW II. One brother was a marine flyer in the SW Pacific and, subsequently in Korea. Two served in the Army in the SW Pacific and two sisters served overseas in Europe and the Pacific with the Red Cross. Dan served in the North Atlantic on the ship Willis (Destroyer Escort 395) performing anti-submarine duty and, subsequently, in the Pacific where it participated in securing several Japanese occupied islands. Dan was a graduate of McDonnell Memorial High School in Chippewa Falls, where he was elected class president two years and captain of the football team. In a national contest sponsored by “Auxilium Latinum”, he earned a magna cum laude one year and a summa cum laude another. After the war, he attended the University of Wisconsin (Madison) for two years and finished up at Marquette to earn his BS degree. Prior to retiring in 1993, Dan’s 30+year career was as a professional fundraiser and development consultant. During those years, he found time to take courses at Creighton University, the University of Minnesota, Southwest Louisiana University, Bellarmine University, and the University of Louisville. His fundraising career included serving on or directing campaigns for a series of churches, YMCA’s , private secondary schools, universities, hospitals, and the United Way throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, and Louisiana. In 1987 he instituted the planned giving program for American Mensa. During those years he several times was a featured speaker at regional and national NAHD (National Association for Hospital Development and CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) development conferences. Dan founded the Kentuckiana chapter of DESA (Destroyer Escort Sailors Association) which in 1995 hosted the organizations’ national convention in Louisville. That same year his wartime DE comrades elected him Commanding Officer, a position in which he served up until August, 2014. Dan was an informed, life-long Catholic, and a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, having joined Council 562 in Roanoke, Virginia back in 1953. Just prior to his retirement in 1993, Dan took on the task of organizing annual reunions for his WW II ship, USS Willis (DE 395). Those were so successful that in 1994 his shipmates voted him National Commander. Among those three-day reunions in 16 different cities, three were in Canada (Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City), something which no other American warship has done before or since. In early 2012, moved by the deaths of so many older veterans and, as he has said, perhaps divinely inspired, he instituted the practice of using a bosun whistle at the end of the funeral service to render a 60 second salute at the funerals of more than 200 deceased Jefferson county Navy and coast Guard veterans. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia ( Mills ), one daughter, Kathryn c. ( Casey ) Obrien, and four sons Patrick G. ( Sylvia ) of Cypress, Texas, Terrence J. ( Jeanie ) of Friendswood, Texas, Dr. Daniel J ( Lisa ) of Brentwood, Tennessee, and David J. of Atlanta. In addition, nine grandchildren also survive him. The McHugh family will be present to receive friends Tuesday, April 7, 2015 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, with a vigil service beginning at 7:00 PM at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Dr., Houston, TX 77079. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 11:00 AM at St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, 10503 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77042. He will be interred in the VA Houston National Cemetery following holy mass at 1:15 PM. In lieu of flowers please consider contributions in Daniel's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Daniel Francis McHugh

September 17, 1926 - April 1, 2015