Obituary of Mark L. Hughes

Mr. Mark L. Hughes, 65, of Northern Blvd., Hagaman, NY passed away peacefully on Monday, March 14, 2011 with his beloved family at his side. Born in St. Louis, Missouri on August 25, 1945, he was the son of the late Winston K. and Margaret M. Rodden Hughes. A lifelong resident, Mark attended St. Mary's Institute and graduated in 1963. In 1966, Mark enlisted with the United States Navy, where he served with the US Marines, Amphibious Forces. During his tenure, he supported US Marine communication, on the beach and aboard ship during the Vietnam War on the U.S.S Cambria. He was honorably discharged in May of 1970 as a Petty Officer, 2nd Class ETN2. He went on to attend FMCC where he graduated with a degree in Electronics Technology. It was during his time with the Navy that enabled him to pursue work for the U.S. government for almost 40 years. Mark was first employed for Beekman Auto Parts in Schenectady before taking a position at the General Electric Company. He was on the initial design team for the former Elek-Trac Tractor Co. and received several awards for his work on the battery powered driven tractor. Mr. Hughes then took a position at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in West Milton, New York and was an instrument mechanic and worked on the Submarine Simulators at the site. He then transferred to Knolls in Niskayuna where he worked until his retirement in 2003. He also worked for a time for Brown's Bus Transportation as a bus driver. Mark currently was employed part-time for Lou's Electric and Grade's Electric in Amsterdam and enjoyed working there very much. Mark was a self taught musician. For three years he was a Bass Player in a band called the Dubrea's and toured around the Capital District. Mark also played the folk guitar, banjo, harmonica and the bugle. He and his late son Mark would play guitar and sing on many evenings at the Irish American Club in Amsterdam. Mark also coached both of his sons Baseball throughout the years and had a passion for photography and videoing several family gatherings. His favorite pastime was spending weekends in the summer on the Great Sacandaga Lake on his boat. He also enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, woodworking, coin and stamp collecting, model railroading and antique radio restoration. Mark was a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Amsterdam. He was a member of the former St. Casimir's Church in Amsterdam for a time and would play guitar for the Children's Folk Masses at the church. Mark was a member of the National Rifle Association and the John J. Wyszomirski Post 701; and the Post 701 Color Guard where he would play taps at the annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day Remembrances. He married Judith A. Martin Hughes on April 21, 1968. In addition to his wife he is survived by one son, Martin J. "Marty" Hughes and his wife Linda Bartone-Hughes of Amsterdam; his daughter-in-law, Nori Shannon Hughes and her companion John Salisbury of Hagaman, NY; two sisters Marcia Harnish and her husband Erwin of Amsterdam and Mary Moniz and her husband Fran of Glen, NY; his beloved grandchildren, Shannon J. Hughes, Mark A. Hughes, Margaret A. Hughes, Martina M. Hughes, Matthew J. Hughes and Brodie W. Salisbury; one sister in law, Mary Lou Sobkowicz of Amsterdam; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Mark was predeceased by a beloved son Mark J. Hughes on April 22, 2005. The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Thursday, March 17, 2011, St. Patrick's Day at 9:15a.m. at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 156 East Main Street, Amsterdam. Private interment will follow in the Hagaman Cemetery, Hagaman, NY. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 from 4 until 7p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to NYOH, Riverfront Centre, Amsterdam, NY 12010. Arrangements have been entrusted to Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 12010.