Edward McHugh, 75, retired principal, camp leader

Edward J. McHugh, 75, of Warwick, a retired principal and camp director, died of heart failure Monday at Abington Memorial Hospital.

Mr. McHugh graduated from Cheltenham High School, where he lettered in baseball and basketball. He earned a bachelor's degree from La Salle College, then served as an MP in the Army in Germany.

After his discharge, he taught history at George Washington High School and other schools in the Philadelphia School District. While teaching, he earned a master's degree in education from Temple University.

In 1973, Mr. McHugh was appointed principal of Hill Junior High School, now Hill Freedman Middle School, in Germantown. There, he oversaw construction of a new building and was an advocate for special-education students.

In the summer, Mr. McHugh directed the YMCA's Camp Carson in Lebanon County for seven years, then directed the Lighthouse Art and Music Camp in Pottstown. For three years, in the late 1970s, he was director of the summer camp for special-needs children at the Woods School in Langhorne.

After retiring in the early 1990s, he evaluated student teachers at La Salle University and Chestnut Hill College for several years.

Mr. McHugh was a Philadelphia sports fan and loved to sing. His musical taste ranged from Frank Sinatra to Bob Dylan, and he used to quote song lyrics to fit any occasion, said his wife, Dianne Wickersham McHugh. The two met while walking their dogs in Langhorne, and married in 2001.

In addition to his wife, Mr. McHugh is survived by sons Edward Jr., David, Scott and Stephen; daughters Kara Kalupson and Meredith Karow; stepsons Michael Achuff and Francis Torres; three brothers; two sisters; 11 grandchildren; and his former wife, Marylou McHugh.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today at Fluehr Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd., Richboro. Friends may call at 1 p.m.

Donations may be made to the Philadelphia's Children First Fund, School District of Philadelphia, 440 N. Broad St., Suite 326, Philadelphia, Pa. 19130.