Hugh was born on August 16, 1935 in Toronto, Ontario, to Agnes and Professor Donald J. McDougall. He was the younger brother of Dr. E. Peter McDougall. Growing up in the Annex, Hugh attended De La Salle College “Oaklands” and St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in History. In June 2024 Hugh celebrated his 65th homecoming at U of T.

It was at St. Michael’s College that Hugh met Eleanor Hughes, with whom he worked for a summer on a Planters Peanuts Parade float, touring Ontario and Quebec. They married on June 11, 1960 at St. Anselm’s Church in Leaside. That same year, Hugh began his career as an educator at St. Michael’s College School in Toronto, where he taught history and served as a teacher, coach, mentor, department head and vice principal between 1960 and 1986. His contributions to the St. Michael’s College School community were recognized in 2015, when Hugh was inducted into the Order of St. Michael, an honour he was delighted to receive.

In 1974 adventure called and Hugh accepted a two-year position as the headmaster of the Canadian Junior College in Lausanne, Switzerland. For Eleanor and Hugh and their four children, Elizabeth, Mary Anne, Brian and Peter, who ranged in age from 5 to 13 years old, this was a transformative experience - exploring, skiing, travelling, camping, learning French and strengthening their bond as a family. Hugh loved his new job as Headmaster, reassuring homesick students and their faraway parents, supporting the teachers hired at the CJC and managing the intricacies of Swiss bureaucracy with his increasing fluency in French.

In 1986 Hugh joined his friend Jack Smith as vice principal in the opening years of Father John Redmond CSS. He often recalled the fun the two of them had working together at Redmond.

Hugh’s entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of the Lycée canadien en France, located in St.Jean-Cap Ferrat, in the late 1980s. This unique school succeeded as a result of his talents as a leader, an educator and a presenter.

Hugh retired from a fulfilling career in education in 1996. He is remembered by former students and colleagues for his respect, integrity, kindness, humour and oratory skills.

Retirement meant more time for Hugh and Eleanor’s interests - golf, skiing, friends and family. Together they shared a love of books, movies, fine dining and travel. And they enjoyed watching their family grow, welcoming sons-in-law Patrick Kay and Mark Sucharda and daughters-in-law Karie McDougall and Wendy McDougall. Hugh happily became Grandpa, affectionately known as “G-pa” and “Geeps”, a loving, fun and very proud grandfather of nine grandchildren - Stephanie and Lauren; Erin and Paul; Meghan, Kelsey and Greg; Hugh and Nolan. Hugh remained a devoted husband, and then caregiver to Eleanor after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, until her death in 2018.

Throughout his life, Hugh maintained strong friendships, many spanning decades. Conversations were witty, smart and funny; never dull and often loud. He was a longtime member of Weston Golf & Country Club, joining in 1967 and playing well into the summer of 2023, supported by a foursome of close friends who ensured Hugh remained in the game he loved.

Last year, Hugh completed a long-held project that was a request from his mother - publishing a biography of his father, Professor Donald J. McDougall, a World War I veteran, Rhodes Scholar and professor of history at the University of Toronto. The result was a fitting tribute from a son who deeply admired his father’s legacy.

Our father taught us to embrace challenges, to act with conviction and to always be learning.

He was a wonderful Dad and we will miss him deeply.



Details of the Celebration of Life:

Sunday, March 23, 2025

2:00-5:00 p.m. (Remembrances at 3:30 p.m.)

Weston Golf & CC

50 St. Phillips Rd.

Toronto, ON

M9P 2N6



In memory of Hugh please consider a donation to a charity of your choosing.