Eight Bells: Howard John Hughes “H” July 11, 1933 – January 6, 2023

Jan 23, 2023

Boatbuilder, Aviator, Engineer, Entrepreneur, Husband, Father & Friend to many, Howard’s journey ended peacefully on Friday January 6th 2023.

Howard Hughes was born in Liverpool, England 1933 to John and Anne Hughes. Joined in 1939 by his brother Peter, H’s formative years were WW2 (sleeping nightly in their backyard bomb shelter), losing their father in his teens, working through school graduating from the University of Liverpool, Engineering. He enjoyed jazz, photography, cricket, cars, motorcycling and building/ flying model aircraft.

H and Peter immigrated to Canada in 1960 sailing on RMS Sylvania to a new life of opportunity & prosperity in the new world. Landing in Montreal, they knew only each other and with $100 each took a train to Toronto. Working with new immigrants they quickly found work & were relocated to Willowdale. Within a few years he was working for Pilkington Glass as representative of the company sales in North & Central America. H met his wife of 56 years, Mary Murphy in Toronto and were married on February 26, 1966.

Howard & Mary, Peter & Patricia (Peter’s wife) all lived together in Toronto & started building small sailboats which quickly evolved into Hughes Boatworks and was purchased by US Steel in the early 1970’s.

The next decades saw H as a serial entrepreneur who forayed into manufacturing GM motor coaches, refurbishing aircraft, reacquired Hughes Boatworks (Northstar Yachts), acquired Columbia Yachts, manufactured swimming pools & operated a motorhome rental business. Through many tremendous highs and lows Howard was always a rock of comfort, guidance, council and friendship to his family and many friends.

Many extensive list of models of Hughes, NorthStar and Columbia boats built by Hughes Boatworks are enjoyed by happy owners still.

Rest In Peace H