Thomas J. Hughes M.D.

90, of Tempe, Arizona passed away on February 8, 2011. Affectionately known as both "Tom" and "Tommy" to family and friends, he was born to Thomas J. Hughes, Sr. and Stella Cook Hughes on their ranch near Tempe, AZ on September 19, 1920. He attended Rural School in Tempe, Brophy High School in Phoenix, Bellarmine Prep in Santa Clara, CA, and Santa Clara University, and graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, with a degree in medicine. Thomas served overseas in the Army as a medic at the close of World War II. Thomas served the Tempe community as a family doctor and ASU football team doctor, also volunteering his time at the ASU Health Center and with the Boy Scouts. He loved delivering babies and was heard to say, "I've seen so many people out of this world. It's nice to be able to bring a few in." Tom was a longtime member of Tempe Rotary and often led the singing at meetings. He was colorblind and received a fine from Rotary for wearing green shoes (which he thought were brown), given to him by his children as prank. Thomas loved music and sang with the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra, performing in venues around the Valley and at Carnegie Hall and in Europe. He also played harmonica. From their earliest days, he read poetry to his children. Favorites included William Cullen Bryant's "The White Footed Deer," Alfred Noyes' "The Highwayman," and Joyce Kilmer's "Trees." He also read them various stories from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" at bedtime, which lead to the occasional nightmare. He repeatedly told his children the story of "Puff and Duff," about two baby doves whose efforts at learning to fly determined their fate. An avid hunter and fisherman, he leaves behind a freezer full of doves waiting to be made into tamales. Thomas dearly loved the outdoors, especially the desert. Picnics in a wash were a family tradition. He and Nonie spent many happy hours driving on the desert in their 1961 International Harvester Crew Cab and getting lost or stuck in the mud in various beautiful places. For his family, the beauty of nature will always invoke his memory. He is survived by his wife, Nonie Hughes, his sister, Martha Joyce, and his children Annie Hughes (and her husband, Patrick Hubbard), Thomas Patrick Hughes, Mary Elizabeth Hughes, and Amy Hughes Ruggles and grandchildren Elizabeth Madrid (and her husband Anthony Madrid), Erin Rose Hubbard, Penelope Anne Reich, Samantha Ann Ruggles, and Christopher John Ruggles. He is also survived by Nonie's children Nancy Boyd (and her husband Randal Boyd) and Nelson MacDonald and grandchildren Rebecca Boyd and Christopher Boyd. Thomas was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Penelope Peck Hughes and his brothers, Donald Hughes and Thane Read. Services will be held on Sunday, February 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the Old Catholic Church at the Newman Center, located on the northwest corner of E. University Drive and N. College Avenue in Tempe. The address of the Newman Center is 230 East University Drive. Arrangements under the direction of Carr-Tenney Mortuary, Tempe, AZ.