Obituary of Richard P. Hughes

 Richard Peter Hughes, age 68, passed away at his home in New Egypt, NJ, on June 20, 2026, in the embrace of his loving family.

Born in Brooklyn on May 21, 1958, he was raised in Great Kills, Staten Island. The third of ten kids, Richie was a lover of music, history, aliens, and his family.

Richie played sousaphone in the Monsignor Farrell High School Marching Band, which he often called some of the best days of his life. That experience instilled in him a lifelong appreciation for music. He also played the snare drum in the Staten Island Pipes & Drums.

He met the love of his life, Eileen, while pushing her wheelchair at St. Vincent’s Medical Center for an injury she sustained during a basketball game. They married in 1985 and had four beautiful children. They raised their family in Jackson, NJ, where they stayed for 25 years.

Richie went on to have a 42-year career in medicine as a Physician Assistant, the last 18 years of which were spent in the Department of Neurosurgery at Staten Island University Hospital. He also previously worked at Bayley Seton Hospital, St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Lutheran Medical Center, Methodist Hospital, and UMDNJ.

Richard is survived by his loving wife, Eileen, and his children: Patrick (Maureen), Sean, Bridget, and Nora (Michael). As well as his siblings, James, John, Edward (Lynn), Pete (Tina), Barbara (Jim), Patricia (Patrick), Mary, Joe (Rachel), Christine Hogan, Steven McEnearney and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents James and Catherine, and his sister Cathy.

All are invited to celebrate Richie’s life at Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home on June 24 and 25, from 4-8 p.m. For information, or to leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 26, at 10 a.m., at Saint Veronica’s, 4219 US-9, Howell Township, NJ 07731. For those that cannot attend in person, the family invites you to participate via Webcast, HERE.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Joan Dancy & pALS Foundation as they were an invaluable source of support and comfort during the last 4 months of Richard’s life.