Patrick Hughes

PATRICK HUGHES

Oxford

Patrick T. Hughes, local social activist with passion for workers' rights, dies at 65.

Patrick T. Hughes of rural Oxford died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, of metastatic melanoma at Mercy Hospice in Iowa City.

Patrick was born Nov. 23, 1948, in East Cleveland, Ohio, to Jack and Josephine Hughes. He grew up in Lyndhurst, Ohio, where he graduated from Brush High School in 1966. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and a teaching certificate from Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, in 1971.

Patrick moved in the early 1970s to Iowa, where his career spanned many trades, professions and passions, ranging from furniture making, community organizing, folk music, gardening and rescuing basset hounds; but he was most proud to be a union carpenter with a deep passion for social justice, workers' rights and labor activism.

He learned to make furniture as a woodworker at the Amana Furniture Shop in the 1970s, a period that also began his active role with co-ops and community volunteerism.

Patrick was a founding member of Blooming Prairie warehouse and also worked at New Pioneer Co-op during its early years. He later became president and board member of New Pioneer Co-op, where he supported the controversial decision to expand to Coralville.

Patrick was a proud member of Iowa City Carpenters Local 1260 where he served almost 20 years as president of Iowa City Federation of Labor and up to his death served as a member of the central committee of the Johnson County Democrats. He loved being a carpenter, recently commenting (with his usual dry humor) to his doctors at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics that he had helped build part of the hospital many years before.

Patrick also worked for several years for The United Way of East Central Iowa as an AFL-CIO Community Services liaison. More recently, Patrick worked at Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity as a construction manager and taught temporarily at Kirkwood Community College as a carpentry instructor.

Patrick loved music, singing and playing the banjo. He was a member of Musicians Union (Local 450) and played regularly with other local musicians and friends. Patrick also worked to support local artisans and Iowa culture and was a founding member of the Iowa Artisans Gallery in Iowa City.

One of Patrick's greatest joys was spending time at home with his wife, Jeanne, working in their gardens growing organic produce and bringing their 150-year-old farmhouse to life.

Patrick is survived by his wife, Jeanne Stoakes; son, Unity, and his wife, Katya; son, Patrick, and his wife, Michelle, and grandson, Jack; son, Cayenne, and his wife, Jen, and granddaughter, Lily; and his sisters, Maureen Fitzpatrick and Madelyn Budin and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Josephine Hughes.

Patrick's family invites friends and community for a celebration of Patrick's life on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Kirkwood Room (605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City), followed by Patrick's personally requested after party with music at the Center for Workers Justice / City Fed Hall (940 S. Gilbert Ct.) from 4 to 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Center for Workers Justice, 940 S. Gilbert Ct., Iowa City, IA 52240; or Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, 2401 Scott Blvd., Iowa City, IA 52240.