Hugh McGinnis

Hugh was born on Monday June 5th, 1922 in Portland Oregon to Edgar Harrison McGinnis and Marie Josephine (Marpert) McGinnis.

He graduated from St. Andrew’s grade school in 1936 and from Jefferson High School in 1940.

He began playing tennis on the public courts of Portland in his early teens. “Mac” as he was known, won the Boys High School League Singles tennis title in the spring of 1940. He also took top honors in Junior Men’s Singles in the US(L)TA Tennis Center Championships held at the Irvington Club that same spring.

Hugh enrolled at the University of Portland in 1940. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942, serving as a Naval Aviator, flying hundreds of hours off carriers. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

Returning to Portland, he graduated cum laude with a BA in Business administration from UP in 1948.

Hugh, with buddies Bill Campau and Jack O’Neill, started Sky Hucksters, an aerial advertising business. Hugh and Bill flew the Yellow Stearman bi-plane towing a 100 foot banner in the skies above Portland.

Following the Sky Hucksters enterprise, Hugh began work as a Junior Account Executive at MacWilkins, Cole and Webber, an advertising firm in Portland. A co-worker introduced Hugh to her sister, Dorothy Belle Jones, a recent transplant from the Bay area. After 6 weeks of courtship, Hugh proposed and their life together began. Twelve months later, they were wed at The Madeleine on June 23rd, 1951.

Faith and service were instrumental in Hugh’s life. Hugh and a small group of University of Portland students, with the encouragement of their mentor, the late Fr. Francis Kennard, sought to bring their spirit of community service to life. In 1952 they established the Blanchet House of Hospitality, serving meals to Portland’s homeless citizens.

During this period, Hugh made a career change, and started teaching at Jefferson High School in 1953. He earned his Master's in Education in 1968, at which time he started counseling at Jefferson and evening high school at Benson. He retired in 1982, but continued counseling at Benson High for several years.

On July 4th 1964, the family moved into NE Portland near 32nd Place and Siskiyou where they lived for the next 50 years. The family joined the Madeleine Parish, where Hugh and Dorothy were active in many parish ministries.

The family joined the Irvington Club in 1965. Hugh taught his entire family to play tennis here and developed many lifelong friendships on and off the court. He arranged with his “buddies” to bring treats for their post-match coffee talk which often turned into a social hour for many members who wanted to experience a little of the legacy of their combined 400+ years.

He continued playing tennis 2 to 3 times a week until he was 88, when Alzheimer’s disease made it overwhelmingly difficult for him to continue playing on the court. Always a fitness buff, Hugh continued to complete his calisthenics workouts at home until he was 91.

Hugh was defined by his faith, his love of family, and his warm welcoming spirit. Rarely would you encounter Hugh without his smile, a wave and his signature “Hi Hi” greeting.

Hugh is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy; their five children, sons Paul (Priscilla Miller), Stephen (Deborah), Michael (Kody), Mark (Jill), and daughter Julie, all of Portland; and 11 grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

Hugh’s wife Dorothy and their five children and their children were the light of his life. He often said “Nothing brings me greater happiness than seeing my family enjoying each other.” Please join the McGinnis family as we celebrate the light of our lives at a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday September 10th, 2015 at St. Mary Magdalene Church, NE 24th and Siskiyou. Recitation of the Rosary will preceed the service at 10:30 AM. A reception will follow at the parish hall.

Please visit http://www.dignitymemorial.com to sign the guest book and leave your memories of Hugh and condolences online.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Courtyard at Mt. Tabor Memory Center and Providence Hospice Care for their kind and loving care of Hugh this past year.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Blanchet House in memory of Hugh McGinnis.