Jack Hughes

John Joseph Hughes, Jr. (“Jack”) born on September 22, 1940 in Orange, N.J. to the late John Joseph Hughes, Sr and Helen F. Hughes (nee Ryan) passed away peacefully at home in Florham Park on May 19, 2026. 

Jack graduated from Seton Hall Prep in 1958 and Seton Hall University in 1962. He met the love of his life, Peggy, in 1956 in South Orange, and they married on August 26, 1961.  In the late 60s, they moved their growing family from Orange, NJ to Florham Park while Jack was working for Provident Mutual Insurance Company as a sales agent. In his 40s, he moved from the insurance industry into production planning and expediting at Schering-Plough and ultimately, Foster Wheeler in Perryville, NJ.

While focusing on the early years of his career and raising three children, nothing gave Jack greater joy than coaching his children in all their rec sports. Jack coached with a positive, loud, and high-pitched voice, recognizable by any player, parent or spectator fortunate enough to watch those softball, Little League, or Falcons football games.  To Jack, laughing at failures on the field and making a joke to turn frustration into smiles was his forte.  Jack enjoyed playing tennis, softball and golf in the warmer weather, and platform tennis in the winter months at the Florham Park Municipal fields.  Jack was a rabid NY Mets and Seton Hall basketball fan until the very end.  Jack spent his final night on earth watching his Mets beat the Nationals in extra innings and surely went to sleep that night with a smile on his face.

Jack loved spending time with his family and friends, especially summer vacations with his children in Cape May and Myrtle Beach, and later with his grandchildren in Delaware. He never met a beer he liked, so it was diversity across grapes with whites, reds and blush wines as his beverage of choice.  Even when saltwater fishing with his brothers out of Leonardo, NJ, he’d sneak a bottle of blush wine on board like contraband, because his brother, Captain Jim only stocked beer. Jack had an amazing sense of humor and an ability to put people at ease, or unease if that was his plan. His Irish heritage was very important to him and the twinkle in his eye proved he could be as mischievous as some, but incredibly patient and good-natured as so few.

Jack was predeceased by his loving wife of almost 65 years, Peggy, on March 12, 2026. He is also predeceased by his brother Robert J. Hughes (Bobby) and his wife Jacqueline and their son Michael; and his sister, Kathe Ann Fawcett. 

Jack is survived by his loving and cherished children Donna Niro, Kelly Kendelski (Gary) and Jeff Hughes (Lisa); his grandchildren Cory (Caitlin), Kyle, Jamie, Michael, Jenna, Steven, Ryan, Dylan and great-grandson, Cooper Hughes Kendelski. He is also survived by his loving brother James J. Hughes, Sr. (Liz) and brother-in-law, James S. Fawcett as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.  Jack’s family is extremely grateful for the compassionate care he received from the nurses at The Delaney on the Green in his final months of life.

The memorial visitation will be held at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Tuesday, May 26th from 4-7pm.  The memorial funeral mass will be held at Holy Family Church in Florham Park on Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00am. 

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