Edmund Hughes Sr.

Edmund Hughes Sr.

Edmund Hughes Sr., 80, of Brick, passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. Visiting hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Weatherhead Young Funeral Home, 885 Mantoloking Rd., Brick, N.J. 08723. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River. Edmund was born on June 4, 1928, to James and Mary Geraghty Hughes in Jersey City.

At the age of 16, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine, and completed two sailings. After the Merchant Marine, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a sergeant while in Korea. In 1949, he married the former Mildred Carara, who knew him as "Whitey" for his platinum blonde hair. He had four children. He became a police officer for the Port Authority of NY/NJ and retired in 1974 after 20 years on the job.

After moving to Florida for a few years, he worked for the Hollywood/Fort Lauderdale Airport Police and then transferred to the Broward County Sheriff's Department. Upon returning to New Jersey, he became a police officer for the Department for Defense at Lakehurst Naval Base. He served for 18 years, during which he received numerous promotions, eventually attaining the title of chief of police. He retired as chief of police in 1999.

Edmund loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter. He loved spending time with his family and especially loved to entertain "the little ones". He had a great sense of humor and loved to tell jokes to family and friends. He was always there to listen and try to help anyone who had a problem. He will be sincerely missed by all who knew him.

Edmund was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Mildred Carara Hughes, in 2008. He is survived by his children, Edmund G. and wife, Gail, of Cape Coral, Fla., Howard of Brick, N.J.,Michael and wife, Melissa, of Manchester, N.J., and Sandra Hughes of Toms River, N.J. He is also survived by two sisters, Rose Moore of East Strousburg, Pa., and Kathleen Scavo of North Arlington, N.J. Edmund also leaves behind six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made directly to the family.