Obituary of Roderick Hughes

Roderick P. Hughes, III Olean, NY Roderick P. Hughes, III, 70, of 201 Hamilton Ave. passed away Friday (January 30, 2015) at his home. Rod was born December 31, 1944, in Madison, IN, the oldest of seven children from Roderick P. Hughes, II, and Anna K. Kasper. He married Deborah Anne Connor on May 30, 1970. That same year he was appointed Assistant Professor of Philosophy at St. Bonaventure University and shortly after was awarded a Ph.D. degree in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. One of the University's most beloved faculty members, he received the University's Excellence in Teaching Award, served as Chair of the Faculty Senate, was promoted to Associate Professor, and was the long-time chairman of the department of philosophy. Over his 45 years at St. Bonaventure he taught critical thinking, from a book that he authored, to more than 6000 students. Rod was an avid coin and stamp collector. He began collecting coins in 1960, selling coins by mail and through numismatic shows throughout the U.S. since 1966. A member of both the American Numismatic Association and the American Philatelic Society, he also wrote several editions of Fell's United States Coin Book, a definitive book on coin collecting. He is survived by his wife, Deborah of Olean, NY; his children, Rod IV of Rochester, NY, Chambers of San Diego, CA, Ray of Olean, NY, Jake of Pittsburgh, PA, and Hannah of Olean, NY; his daughter-in-law, Christine of Rochester, NY; his grandchildren Rod V, Holten, and Camee of Rochester, NY; his brothers and sisters Timothy (Penny) Hughes, Kevin (Mary Beth) Hughes, L. Kathleen Brown, Christine (Ed) Knouse and Patricia (Eric) Lindley, all of Indianapolis, IN and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son Ryan Owen Hughes and a brother Thomas Hughes. Friends will be received from 4-7pm Monday at the St. Bonaventure University Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday (February 3, 2015) at 10:00am at the Chapel. Rev. Francis DiSpigna, OFM, guardian of the University Friary, will be the principal celebrant, assisted by Rev. F. Patrick Melfi, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church in Salamanca. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ryan Owen Hughes Memorial Scholarship at St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, NY, 14778. Arrangements, under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.