Derek Hughes

Derek Hughes, age 91, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2026 in Southbury, CT.

Born on December 16, 1934, in the Garston district of Liverpool, England, Derek (aka Dedge, Del, or Yoz) was the third of seven children born to William and Agnes Hughes. He often described his upbringing as that of a “large, poor, happy family.”

Derek grew up in the midst of World War II and the Blitz, which required him to evacuate the city at age seven with his older brother Stanley and seek safety with host families in the Welsh countryside for almost two years. At 13, Derek was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Liverpool Institute for Boys. Soon after he secured a job at the National Westminster Bank, and then at 18 he would serve two years in the Royal Air Force No. 17 Regiment in Celle, Germany.

In 1957, he married Marion Davies, whom he met one fateful night at a Garston dancehall. After a somewhat unsuccessful, albeit storied stint as a door to door vacuum salesman, he began his career in the insurance industry at the Royal Exchange Insurance Group in Liverpool. Derek and Marion then set their sights on America, and in 1961 began their transatlantic adventure from Liverpool to New York aboard the ocean liner RMS Sylvania. With no job prospects or housing, and just enough money for a return trip, the two were warmly welcomed by Derek’s cousin Nancy who had already settled in Brooklyn. She offered her pull-out couch, helped with job leads, and guided the young couple through the culture shock of America. To two young Liverpudlians, much about their new home felt strange, bewildering, and wonderfully foreign—from the New York subway system to menus packed with unfamiliar choices and a culture far more open and direct than the one they had left behind.

In 1972, he became President and CEO of the Western World Insurance Group, and along with Marion and their three children, settled in Ramsey, NJ where the company was based. Derek’s career would take him all over the country and abroad, with frequent trips to the UK, Switzerland, Argentina, and Brazil, often with Marion and their three children in tow. On these trips he would always make sure to included a stopover in Liverpool to spend time with his family, Royal Air Force buddies, and other dear friends. He would later write a book “Absolute Beginnings” (2006) chronicling his experience in the industry.

In 1991 at the age of 57, he embarked on a vibrant second act with Marion in Manhattan, where he immersed himself in his lifelong passions for theater, literature, music, and writing. He served on the boards of the Shakespeare and Gilbert & Sullivan Societies, and took memoir writing classes at the New School which later became the collection of life stories in his book “Lad from Liverpool” (2023). After a few short years of enjoying New York City life, Marion sadly passed away in 1997.

It was in New York where he would meet his second wife, Helen Rauch, who had raised her four sons in Woodbury, CT and moved to the city where she ran her own business. Derek and Helen married in 1999 in New York City, then years later made the move to Washington, Ct where he resided until his passing.

Derek was a voracious reader and a lifelong devotee of the arts - dramatic plays, Broadway shows, film, and of course, music. The Beatles, Brazilian samba, The Clancy Brothers, and all things classical would be the soundtrack of long road trips, backyard barbecues, and the everyday moments in between. Whether it was whistling, singing, or playing DJ at his infamous “knees up” New Year’s Eve parties, there would always be some form of music following him wherever he went (and more often than not, a silly impromptu jig to accompany it).

While Derek rarely missed an opportunity for fun or mischief, he reserved a special seriousness for two things: his religious faith and athletic competition. Both of these pursuits he approached with the utmost dedication, discipline, and reverence. There was simply no horsing around when it came to Sunday worship. His strong Christian faith guided him throughout his life, and inspired his generosity, compassion, kindness, and acceptance of all people, and the duty of giving back and lifting people up through community involvement and service.

There was also no goofing around when it came to game day. As an athlete, Derek was a fierce competitor, and played racquetball and tennis several times a week for most of his life. Even a benign, friendly volleyball game at a family party soon escalated into what appeared to be the championship match of the century, or at least it was in Derek’s eyes. But his number one passion sport was football. Whether it was playing it, watching it on tv, or cheering from the sidelines, he lived and breathed the game. Derek could perform endless rounds of “keepy-uppies”, skillfully using his feet, knees, chest and head to keep a soccer ball aloft for what seemed like hours without letting it touch the ground. Starting with ragtag matches in the streets of Garston as a child, he grew into a formidable player, competing in semi-professional leagues along with other UK and Scottish expats in Brooklyn. Derek and his teammates would become like family, and soon cultivated a close knit expat “tribcheeringining their cultural identities in the midst of American life and building enduring friendships that spanned decades. Years later he would bring his love and passion for the game to the next generation by coaching his children’s teams and a cheering on his grandchildren from the sidelines. Always the avid fan with unwavering loyalty, he never missed a match on tv when his favorite team Liverpool Football Club was playing.

Aside from church and competition, everywhere else was fair game for irreverent humor and a healthy dose of light-hearted ribbing. To know Derek was to expect several good belly laughs in the course of even one conversation. He wholeheartedly embraced the art of comedy, the sheer absurdity of life, and any opportunity to make a dull, ordinary moment into the most fun you’ve ever had in your life. It was his booming voice and boisterous laugh that would rise above the voices in a crowd and fill the entire room as he built up a joke to its crescendo, leaving everyone “in pleats.” His sense of humor ran the gamut of sharp wit and dry humor to over the top voice impressions, terrifying jump scares, and physical comedy the likes of Monty Python. Derek had aspirations of being a comedy writer and even sold jokes to a famous British comedian, but once in the insurance industry he was content to use public speaking engagements as his comedy platform, along with stand-up comedy classes he took well into his sixties. Even at 91 years old, Derek never shed his playfulness, childlike glee, and penchant for mirth and mischief.

Derek could rock an ascot or Fedora hat like no one’s business. He was the first and last one on the dance floor, which often times was a 10 x 10 square of worn down living room carpet. He loved egg butties, fish and chips, spicy chicken vindaloo, and mince pies at Christmas. And depending on occasion or location, a nice cold glass of sauvignon blanc, a dry martini, a Brazilian caipirinha, or a nice pint of lager from the pub. His Sundays were never complete without the hefty weight of The New York Times on his lap, poring over every page of content that would later become the stuff of lively dinner table debates and discussions of current events, politics, and the next must-read book or must-see movie. Simply being in his presence was to feel loved, respected, intellectually engaged, and somehow lighter than when you arrived.

Derek was predeceased by his first wife, Marion, and by siblings William, Cyril, Robert, and Dorothy. He is survived by his beloved wife of 26 years, Helen; his children Robin O’Hara (Patrick), Adam Hughes (Kimberly), and Jennifer Hughes (Steven Lettie); grandchildren Juliette, Brendan, Billy, Katie, and Quinn; his brother Stanley, sister Angela, brother-in-law Malcolm McCleod, and best friend David Saunders; Helen’s sons Marc (Eve), Stephen (Cristina), Alan (Cynthia) and Matthew; her grandchildren Sophia, Olivia, Emily, Jenny, Katie, Alexia, Jon, and Isa; her great grandchildren Skyler, Hazel, Isabel, and Rory; numerous nieces, nephews, dear friends, and all those fortunate enough to have shared in his laughter.

An Episcopal service will be held at First Congregational Church (6 Kirby Road) Washington, Connecticut, on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 2pm. Following the service, guests are invited to gather in the church hall.

Floral tributes may be sent to Munson Funeral Home, 2 School St, Woodbury, CT 06798.

To leave an online condolence please visit munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.