John Hydrick Pugh

John Hydrick Pugh died June 27, 2025, at 80 years of age following a courageous battle with throat cancer. He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina to Emily Hydrick and Edward St. Claire Pugh in 1945. John resided with his parents in Elizabeth City, North Carolina for 15 years. After high school graduation, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University in Raleigh prior to joining the Army in 1966. His four-year tour of duty included being stationed at Fort Meade Maryland working at NSA as a linguist.

In 1968, John married Sarah Goodwin also from Elizabeth City, and they made their home in Maryland. After John’s honorable discharge from the Army, he attended and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in Economics. He then began a career in the Federal Government retiring in 2004 from the FAA as a computer analyst focusing on Air Traffic Controllers.

For the last 24 years, he and Sarah lived in Annapolis, Maryland where he continued to enjoy his love of the water. John was an avid sailor with an expansive knowledge of all things centered around boating. He participated in sailing races from Annapolis to Newport, Marian to Bermuda, and hundreds of races on the Chesapeake Bay as well as enjoying many pleasure cruises.

Additionally, John was a member of and raced with the Classic Moth Boat Association, which holds its annual National regatta from the backyard of his home on the Pasquotank River in Elizabeth City where he and Sarah have spent time for 34 years.

To all who knew him, John was a consummate inventor, electrician, and engineer always able to repair or build. Recently, he played a large role in designing and configuring a new marina on Clements Creek off the Severn River where he served as chair and vice chair on the marina committee for years.

In addition to boating, John enjoyed reading, working puzzles, gardening, and listening to classical music. John could always be found barefooted or in flip flops with a Heineken in hand.

He is survived by his wife Sarah, a sister, Rebecca “Becky” Pugh Fredericks and her husband Stan of Lothian Maryland, his sister-in-law Peggy McPherson and husband Alvin of Elizabeth City, nieces, Beth Foreman (husband John Wood Foreman) of Elizabeth City, Meg Hayes (husband Marcus Hayes) of Greensboro NC, and nephew Arthur McPherson also of Elizabeth City, five grandnieces and nephews and two great grandnieces and one great grand nephew.

An open house to honor John will be held at their home in the Downs on Saturday, July 12th from 4 to 7 pm. An additional acknowledgement will be held at their home in Elizabeth City, NC on July 20th from 4-7 pm.

In lieu of flowers, John recognized the need for support for WETA (Washington Educational Telecommunications Association). Refer to Audience Services at 703-998-2724 or website WETA.org.