County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County
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Dr. Robert Mason Hughes, 79, passed away in June 2025 in Corvalis, Oregon.
Raised in Harrison, Michigan, Bob pursued a lifelong passion for the natural world. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and went on to receive a PhD in Fisheries and Wildlife from Oregon State University in 1979. His distinguished career as an aquatic ecologist began with the Environmental Protection Agency in Corvalis, where he worked from 1980 to 2004. He continued his work in academia at Oregon State University as Professor: Senior/Research from 2004 to 2012 and later as a Professor: CourtesyAssociate until 2025.
As a world-renowned expert in aquatic ecology, Bob’s contributions to the fisheries profession were extensive. He edited six books and authored hundreds of articles in scientific journals. Bob also had a special talent as an inspirational motivator for students and early career professors. He was a devoted and persistent mentor who brought out the best in everyone around him.
His dedication was recognized with numerous accolades, including three Fulbright Scholarships to teach in Brazil (2007, 2010, 2022-23), the Award of Excellence from the American Fisheries Society (2022), the Lifetime Achievement Award from the AFS Oregon Chapter (2007), and over ten EPA Scientific & Technological Achievement Awards.
In addition to his extensive professional accomplishments, a friend described Bob as a force of nature. He was energetic, enthusiastic and outgoing with a dry sense of humor and a talent for making friends out of colleagues and strangers alike. He loved skiing, kayaking, fishing, hiking and backpacking. His innate sense of curiosity about the natural world as well as different cultures led him to travel to all 7 continents. He was also a longtime soccer referee with the Mid-Valley Soccer Referees Association who worked to promote fairness and sportsmanship both on and off the field. He lived his life to the fullest and was generous in sharing his love, expertise, and wisdom with hundreds of people around the world.
Bob is survived by his wife Mary Hughes; son Greg Hughes; daughter Elizabeth Hughes; daughter-in-law Anne Hughes and son-in-law Dave Jeter; three granddaughters; and brother Jim Hughes.
His memory will continue to inspire all who knew him.
