By

Eganville Leader


January 15, 2025

Share

Image

March 5, 1937 – January 15, 2025

We are sad to share that Hugh Schooley passed away at home on January 15, 2025. He had been living with pulmonary fibrosis for years.

Hugh Oliver Schooley was born in Peterborough, Ontario and moved with his family to Ottawa in his teens. It is there that he met and married his highschool sweetheart, Jill (nee Hogarth). Jill and Hugh were happily married for over 66 years and had three children: Bruce, living in Ottawa; Susan, Vancouver; and Robert, Pembroke. He also leaves his loving grandson, Morgan, Vancouver.

Hugh studied Science and Forestry at Lakehead College, University of New Brunswick, Michigan State University and the University of Toronto. His studies led him to a lifetime career as a Research Scientist with the Canadian Forestry Service, now Environment Canada. In 1964, Hugh moved with his young family to Corner Brook, and then to St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Jill and he made lots of friends there and never tired of exploring their new province. Hugh built a cabin at Spread Eagle that the family and many visitors from afar enjoyed.

Each summer, Hugh and Jill would drive to Ontario to reconnect with their families, and in 1982 Hugh accepted a position at the Petawawa National Forestry Institute and moved permanently to Pembroke.
Hugh loved being in nature and shared his joy of canoeing, camping and xcountry skiing with his family. He was passionate about the environment and practiced composting and organic gardening long before it became popular. He was an Entomologist and a Master Gardener and never tired of talking about trees, flowers, and bugs to anyone who would listen.

Hugh was a proud member of the Pembroke Horticultural Society where he spearheaded tree planting and other improvements at Pansy Patch Park. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am on February 1, 2025 at Calvin United Church, 276 Church St.