Walter A. Hughes III passed away peacefully at his home March 7. A longtime resident of Atlantic Highlands, Walter was born in Jersey City to Walter A. Hughes and Catherine Egan Hughes.
He was passionate about the sea and cars. He was a graduate of Seton Hall Prep and Fairleigh Dickinson with a bachelor’s degree in business. He was a professional captain and fisherman, beginning with lobsters, scallops and clams. In 1992 he and his partners opened the first clam depuration plant, Clean Water Clam, in Sea Bright. In 1995 they opened a second plant, JT White in Highlands, with both plants employing many clammers. He also owned and operated a seafood distribution company, United Seacoast Corp. He was a councilman for the state of New Jersey Bureau of Shellfisheries since 1987. He also served on the Flemington Customer Service Council for Farm Credit East Bank for many years.
Walt is survived by his wife Mary Lynn, daughter Erin and son Connor. He also leaves his brother Kevin and Linda Hughes of Philadelphia; two sisters, Kathy and John Dorian of Ohio and Maureen and Scott Simmons of Maryland; sister-in-law Carol Ann and Matt Wojcik of Leonardo; brothers-in-law Chuck and Susie Reilly of California and Joe and Linda Reilly of Brick; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation was held March 10 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. A funeral Mass celebrating his life took place March 11 at St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, Atlantic Highlands, with an interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to AACC Food Pantry, Atlantic Highlands United Methodist Church, 96 3rd Ave., Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 or Fulfill, 3300 NJ 66, Neptune City, NJ 07753.
Please visit Walter’s memorial website at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
