HUGH O’RAWE, JR, (92), of PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA, PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON OCTOBER 22, 2023.
HUGH, FONDLY KNOWN AS “HUGHIE”, WAS BORN MAY 25, 1931, IN THE BRONX, NEW YORK, SON OF THE LATE HUGH AND MARGARET O’RAWE AND BROTHER OF THE LATE GERALD O’RAWE. HUGH ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY AND SERVED DURING THE KOREAN WAR IN ANNAPOLIS FOR FOUR YEARS. HE THEN ATTENDED PACE UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE HE EARNED HIS BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING AND LATER GRADUATED FROM HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY IN HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK, WITH HIS MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. HUGH WORKED FOR CBS TELEVISION, IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO WEEI-RADIO IN BOSTON AS DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION. HE RELOCATED HIS FAMILY TO FRAMINGHAM, MA AND LIVED THERE FOR 26 YEARS. IN 1997, HUGH AND HIS WIFE, PAT, MOVED TO SHREWSBURY, MA, WHERE THEY LIVED ON THE LAKE, NEXT TO THEIR SON, HUGH AND HIS FAMILY. WHILE SPENDING WINTERS IN VENICE, FL. THEY MOVED PERMANENTLY TO PUNTA GORDA, FL IN 2018. HUGH MARRIED PATRICIA MC CONVILLE ON JUNE 21, 1956 AND SPENT 65 YEARS TOGETHER BEFORE SHE PASSED IN JANUARY 2021.
HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS 3 CHILDREN, PATRICIA ERGAS AND HER HUSBAND RALPH, HUGH O’RAWE III AND HIS WIFE TRICIA AND MICHAEL O’RAWE. HE IS SURVIVED BY 7 GRANDCHILDREN: ERICA ROSE (YANKOWSKAS) BOWEN AND HER HUSBAND BRENDEN, CAITLIN YANKOWSKAS, KELLEY O’RAWE, MARGARET O’RAWE, SEAN O’RAWE, SHANA O’RAWE AND MICHELLE (O’RAWE) BEASLEY AND HER HUSBAND BRANDON. HE HAS ONE GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER, HAILEY O’RAWE, DAUGHTER OF SEAN O’RAWE.
HUGH GOT HIS REAL ESTATE LICENSE AFTER RETIRING AND CONTINUED TO WORK FOR 17 MORE HAPPY YEARS DOING SALES AND RENTALS. HUGH LOVED WORKING HARD BUT HIS FAVORITE ROLE WAS BEING A FATHER. HE ENJOYED SPENDING TIME WITH HIS CHILDREN, HELPING THEM PREPARE FOR A JOB INTERVIEW OR MAKING A FAMILY MEAL. HE ALSO LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN, ALWAYS THERE TO OFFER HIS LOVE, SUPPORT, TIME AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
VISITING HOURS WILL BE HELD IN ROBERSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 2151 TAMIAMI TRAIL PORT CHARLOTTE, FL, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2023, FROM 5:00PM-7:00PM. A FUNERAL MASS WILL BE CELEBRATED, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023 AT 11:00AM AT SAN ANTONIO CATHOLIC CHURCH, 24445 RAMPART BLVD PORT CHARLOTTE, FL. A PRIVATE FAMILY BURIAL WILL FOLLOW AT THE SARASOTA NATIONAL CEMETERY IN SARASOTA, FL.