Michael C. Hughes

Michael C. Hughes, 78, of Northampton passed away on Monday, June 22, 2020.  Born in Schenectady, NY, Michael grew up across the river in Scotia, NY.  Michael's father, Charles Shepard Hughes, was a draftsman in the large steam turbine generator division of GE, and mother, Charlotte Mae (Shaul) Hughes, was a homemaker and later part-time secretary.

Even as a child, Michael was fascinated by the natural world. He was an inveterate collector and hobbyist - everything from butterflies to stamps to snakes, much to his mother's discomfort. He enthusiastically embraced entomology, mineralogy, geology, philately, photography, and music with a special focus on guitar. His interest in music came early as a young teen he would wake up every morning to play a stack of 45s. He would then flip the stack and play on.  It served him well, as he played the guitar in the fraternity band to help pay for college.

Michael was the first in his family to attend college and graduated from SUNY Albany in 1965 and after teaching high school for three years, he entered the PhD program at the University of Syracuse. After receiving his Doctorate in electrochemistry, he entered postdoctoral studies at the University of Michigan. In 1976 he was hired by Lehigh University as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry; then recruited by Bell Laboratories (Allentown, PA) to establish a chemical analysis laboratory in support of the semiconductor industry. As a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff, Michael contributed to material science in the areas of boron phosphosilicate glass, lithium niobate, gallium arsenide, and cupric bonding.

Michael is survived by his wife of 36 years, Anneve, his son Thomas Hughes and wife Jennifer of Baltimore, MD, his sister Linda A. Hughes, PhD of Newark, DE and his brother Thomas A. Hughes and wife Lynn of Boulder City, NV.

Services will be held privately at the convenience of the family.  Interment will be held at a later date at Indianland Cemetery, Cherryville, PA.  Schisler Funeral Home, 2119 Washington Ave. Northampton, PA 18067 has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Contributions in Michael's memory may be made to the Northampton Area Food Bank, c/o Schisler Funeral Home.