Dennis James Michael McHugh 

February 17, 1942 - August 22, 2024

Obituary

Mr. Dennis James Michael McHugh, age 82 of Smyrna, Georgia passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024.  A celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, November 16th at 10:30 a.m. with a reception to follow. 

Mr. McHugh served in the US Navy and was later employed by IBM in sales. After retirement, he co-founded 15th Street Pizza with his son and daughter-in-law in 2004. 15th Street Pizza is continuing on to this day.  He is survived by his wife of over 56 years, Norma Jean McHugh, daughter Kirin McHugh, son and daughter-in-law Patrick and Katie McHugh, sister Betsy Johnston, granddaughters Mackenzie and Caymen McHugh.  In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make contributions to JDRF (Diabetes Awareness) at breakthroughT1D.org

Carmichael Funeral Home in Smyrna is overseeing the arrangements. http:://www.carmichaelcares.com 770-435-4467. Dennis's obituary is available at these sites:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/dennis-james-michael-mchugh-obituary?id=56094096 

https://www.carmichaelcares.com/obituaries/Dennis-James-Michael-Mchugh?obId=32871965#/celebrationWall

Dennis James Michael McHugh - 2024 - Carmichael Funeral Homes

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DENNIS MCHUGH EULOGY

November 16, 2024

Warren Ross attended Dennis's funeral in Georgia on November 16. Warren offered this eulogy in memory of his old friend.

Where do I start in telling you about my 70-year-long friendship with my buddy Dennis McHugh?

Let’s start at the beginning: We met in 1954 when I joined the Mtc YMCA swim team. My family had just moved to Montclair. Dennis had lived there a long time and knew everyone at the “Y”.  In fact, Dennis used his young charm & salesmanship to somehow get a key to the Y.  So when we became friends, we would swim before school, then walk a mile to Montclair High and then back again after classes to work out with the swim team. During the cold New Jersey winters, our hair would frequently freeze as we walked to school and then melt & drip all over our shoulders while we sat in class.

Dennis was a great athlete – I have to say that since he beat me in most swim races. Besides swimming, he was excellent on the trampoline. I remember holding the cords to his harness as he practiced on Sunday mornings when the Young Mens Christian Association was officially closed – ahh…using that key again!! He was so good on the trampoline that he was asked to perform on television – I saw him do that & I think it was American Bandstand!

From the start, I was impressed by Dennis’s enthusiasm for life, his contagious smile, his reserved laugh & his love for people. My current golfing buddies who had met him thru the years, all remembered him well and truly enjoyed being with him. Speaking of golf: Dennis was unlucky at golf. When I told my good friends about his passing, they all said “Oh, Dennis, the guy who got hit by an errant golf ball in Scotland – He did anything for attention.

We grew up without cell phones, computers, color TV, YouTube, etc.  Dennis & my teenage entertainment was going to his apartment after swim team and secretly reading his sister Betsy’s mushy love letters from her boyfriend who was away in the Navy. We giggled hysterically at what today would be rated “G”. Speaking of movies, there was once a movie that we badly wanted to see but the Catholic Church had it on their forbidden list.  So Dennis went to early Mass that Saturday ..confessed…………. then we went to see it.

We lost touch during our college years. He was distracted by his Pittsburgh University roommate Mike Ditka!!  Dennis later shared many hilarious stories about him. He left college and enlisted in the Navy to avoid being drafted and possibly going to Vietnam.

After the Navy, he met &  fell deeply in love with Norma Jean. We just had to celebrate that… so we held a grooms day at the Jersey shore. Sadly it rained all day. So we went to the Osprey Bar in Manasquan, NJ, billed as the world's longest bar. It was around noon and there were 8 of us. When the bartender asked what we wanted to drink, the first groomsman said Bloody Mary. After making that drink, the second groomsman said he’d also like a Bloody Mary ... then the third and so on. But by the time the 8^th groomsman got his Bloody Mary, the first one had finished his and asked for a refill… and so on…I’m sure you get the picture.  The result was we were at the Osprey Bar for about 5 hours and that good-natured bartender made Bloody Marys nonstop!!!  We had about 80 toasts to Norma Jean & Dennis’s marriage and that is why it lasted all these years!!

I was in their wedding party and we spent such a special marriage weekend!!  I remember it very well... the backyard Friday dinner, the fun wedding itself and then swimming at a nearby lake on Sunday while the bride and groom left for their honeymoon.

When they returned & feeling confident in his sales abilities (remember that Y key) Dennis sold Amway products. I remember specifically when he called me a month later. I thought he wanted to tell me about his honeymoon or just to catch up…but no, he wanted to sell me Amway products…  at least I was in his thoughts.

We stayed in as close touch as you can over the years. I lived in New Jersey while Dennis & Norma Jean moved to Kalamazoo and then to Smyrna. I visited then several times in Smyrna. Dennis & I went twice to the Masters Golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia. He came frequently to NJ since Norma Jean still had family there. We always got together during those times. He stayed at our home when we had our high school reunions. I felt very proud of our lasting friendship. 

Whenever we met or talked by phone, Dennis would proudly update me first about what was going on in Norma Jean's life, then Kirin & then Patrick & Katie. Soon he added MacKenzie and then Caymen. He so deeply loved his family. So much so that his talking about his Bonzai trees, 15^th Street Pizza & Pub, St. George Island, and his MG came afterwards. Speaking of 15^th Street Pizza,  I always pictured Dennis like Norm in the tv show Cheers ... sitting at the end of the bar chatting up all the patrons ...  Patrick, am I right?

As I just said, Dennis loved people & people loved him. His charming smile and positive outlook. I’ll miss our visits and phone calls … I truly believe that Dennis lived his ideal life – with a loving family, close friends, success in his business adventures, enjoyable hobbies – all topped off with a little green MG sports car.

God Bless You Dennis McHugh!!  We all miss you but are thankful to have had you in our lives.

Warren Ross

wk.rossjr@gmail.com

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Bobbye Stoeber pays a visit to Dennis at 15th Street Pizza last fall.

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