Hugh J. Maguire, Jr., known to his friends as Hughie, passed away on July 6, 2024 at the age of 89 in his home in Newark, DE. He was born in Bryn Mawr, PA, to his late parents Betty and Hugh Maguire, Sr. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He retired from the Philadelphia Police Department after 21 years as a Police Officer with over 19 commendations. Then he joined the City of Newark, DE as a Parking Enforcement Officer for 14 years.
Hughie and I met on my 50th birthday and went on our first date to Cape May and while getting to know each other, found out Sandy didn’t like football and Hughie didn’t like golf. Needless to say, Sandy learned to love football and Hughie learned to love golf and had many wonderful golf vacations and watched every Eagles football game. He was an avid Phillies fan. We would often go down “memory lane” with the many places we played golf and especially great meals wherever we went. Our favorite restaurant was the Lobster House in Cape May. That became one of our favorite songs “On the Way to Cape May.”
Hughie was friendly with everyone, whether in a store, a doctor’s office or with his many friends. He would often start singing wherever he was, store, doctor’s office, golf course, etc. and he made people smile. He continued to talk to his Police partner, Jimmy McGrath and I would hear him laugh when they shared stories from their Police experiences. I enjoyed the stories and appreciated their laughter, and I was glad he spoke to Jimmy just a couple days before he passed.
Hughie was a devoted father to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed spending time playing golf with his son and visiting family on holidays watching Eagles or Phillies, depending on the season. He always appreciated the effort it took to have all the family together at Pat and Eileen’s home. He especially liked the chicken broccoli braid!
Hughie had a great friendship with our next-door neighbor, Jim. They had great conversations about family and a shared love of law enforcement. Jim was so helpful to both of us over the years and also near the end. Jim would come over whenever I needed someone to help me move him up in his hospital bed and Hughie would just cross his arms over his chest and wait to be moved. When Hughie’s family couldn’t be here, Jim was just a text away even at midnight after a power failure.
Hughie is survived by his wife of nearly 28 years, Sandy Maguire (nee Strain) and her son Raymond Simpson and by his children, Colleen Petrick (Andrew), John Patrick Maguire (Eileen), Christopher Maguire (Lee), 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. He is also preceded in death by his sons, Hugh Charles Maguire and Michael Maguire and his siblings, Mary Luterman, Patsy Maguire and John Maguire.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: FOP Survivors Fund, 11630 Caroline Road, Philadelphia, PA19154 in memory of Hugh J. Maguire, Jr.
Burial will be held privately.
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
