Jerome McHugh

Jerome Pinckney McHugh (""Jerry"") was born on October 21, 1927 to Helen Shadburne McHugh and Jerome Lester McHugh, in St. Louis, Missouri, and passed away in Denver, Colorado on April 5, 2016. Jerry grew up in Lee's Summit, Missouri, where he attended Pembroke Country Day School in Kansas City. He began college at the University of Missouri and played for the Tigers football team in the 1946 Cotton Bowl. Jerry left the University of Missouri after his freshman year to enlist in the United States Army. After serving in the Army, Jerry finished his undergraduate education at Princeton University, where he majored in Geology and was a proud member of the Ivy Club. After graduating from Princeton in 1951, Jerry moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to work as a staff geologist for the Keener Oil Company. In 1955, Jerry moved to Denver to start his own oil and gas company, eventually called Nassau Resources. Throughout the 1950's, Jerry established Nassau through ""wildcatting"" ventures in the D-J Basin. By the mid 1960's, Jerry's business began to prosper from production in the San Juan Basin. Through Jerry's persistence and perseverance in oil and gas drilling and operations, Nassau Resources grew tremendously. In addition to being a perfect fit for Jerry in business, Denver is also where Jerry met Anabel Carey, the love of his life. The two were married in 1956 and had five children. Jerry and Anabel have also been blessed with 17 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. As Nassau Resources flourished, Jerry was able to enjoy time with his family and philanthropic pursuits that were dear to him. He spent time attending the many athletic events of his children and grandchildren, traveling to his family's home in Breckenridge, and enjoying family trips throughout the world. The pillars of Jerry's philanthropic endeavors were rooted in an appreciation of his own educational opportunities, his Catholic faith, and his humility related to the success of Nassau Resources. Colorado Academy, Colorado College, and the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation are amongst the benefactors of Jerry's and Anabel's time, talents, and generosity. Jerry's many passionate interests included: the Rocky Mountains; Wickenburg, Arizona; the Four Corners; Mile High Stadium's Section 403; golf; the Irish Sea; traveling the world; and the art and culture of the American Southwest. Jerry's two most notable characteristics were gregariousness and curiosity. He loved meeting new people and conversing with new and old friends, and he expressed a keen interest in most anyone he encountered. Jerry's penchant for eliciting a person's feelings, opinions, and ambitions, coupled with his capacity to appreciate what another person had to say, made him a unique communicator. Most importantly, Jerry's love of life, family, friends, and endeavors dear to him were all apparent. He left an imprint on this world, and all who came in touch with him were better for having known him. He will be missed by all. Jerry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anabel, his children Jerome, Jr. (Stacy), Erin Gogolak (John), June (Tom Gould), Burke (Amy), Chris (Susan). He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 2 great grand-children. A Vigil Service will be held in Jerry's honor on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 7:00 pm at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, April 8, 2016 at 10:00 am at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 2626 E. 7th Ave Pkwy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Barrow Neurological Foundation. All Funds will be directed towards Alzheimer's research, www.supportbarrow.org/donate, or 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013. Please include Jerry's name on the donation. Please share memories of Jerry and condolences for his family in the guestbook below.