James Hughes

James Robert Hughes, 85, of Cape Canaveral, passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2009. Jim was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on January 30, 1924. He served in the U.S. Navy and retired in 1961 to become a Broward County Deputy Sheriff. He moved his family to Brevard County in 1963 where he worked for Pan American World Services on the Launch Site Recovery Force for the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. He combined all his experience and knowledge to open his very successful marine surveying company when he was in his fifties and continued consulting until his retirement in 2000. He was loved and respected by all who were lucky enough to have known him. Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 50 years, Josephine in 1998. He is survived by his children, Michael, James, and Toni Anne, his brother, John Hughes and seven grandchildren. A service of remembrance and celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home in Cocoa Beach for his family and many friends on Friday, November 13th. Calling hours will be from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. with the memorial service at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103.