Hugh Doherty
Aug 1934 – May 2013
DOHERTY, Curtis HUGH – 78, of Ottawa, ON died peacefully Tuesday, May 7, 2013 in Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital, Ottawa. He was predeceased by his wife of over 50 years, Jean Emily Whitman (2011). He is survived by his son John “David” Hugh Doherty (Wendy McKim), Upper Sackville, NS; daughters Patricia Grace Doherty (David Kelk), Toronto; Jennifer Jean Melindy (Joseph), Embrun, ON; Andrea Margaret Cameron (Larry), Toronto; siblings Eleanor Sangster (Donald), North Gower, ON, Keith Doherty, Toronto, ON, Alan Doherty, Winnipeg, MB, Catherine Doherty, Kelowna, BC, and Apryle Patterson (Ray), Carp, ON, and grandchildren Brooklyn Jean Doherty, Margaret Grace Kelk, Tara Jean Melindy and Madeline Doreen Emily Cameron. He was much loved and will be greatly missed.
Born in Montreal, Hugh was a graduate of Sherbrooke High School and Bishop’s University, Lennoxville, where he earned an Honours BA in History and Philosophy and was awarded the Chancellor’s Prize and the Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for history. He was offered both a Rhodes Scholarship and a Rotary Foundation Fellowship. He accepted the Rotary Fellowship and spent a year in New Zealand following graduation.
A highly respected journalist, Hugh started in the newspaper business on a part-time basis, while still in high school, at the Sherbrooke Daily Record and the Montreal Gazette. He continued while at Bishop’s, where he was also a contributing writer and editor of the student publication The Mitre. His professional career in newspaper and television news propelled him from coast to coast in Canada. Highlights include: Editor-in-Chief, Sherbrooke Daily Record, 1962-68; City Editor, Victoria Daily Colonist, 1969-73; Producer, The National, CBC Toronto, 1974-75; Area And Executive Producer, CBC Edmonton; 1976-78; Area And Executive Producer for Newfoundland, CBC St. John’s; 1978-1984; Senior Producer, National TV News, CBC Toronto, 1984-1989; Senior News Producer, CBC Newsworld, Halifax, 1989-1992; Senior Producer and Assignment Coordinator, CBC Newsworld, Halifax, 1992-1993; Senior Producer, Overnight, CBC Newsworld, Halifax, 1993-1994. He retired from CBC in 1994 and moved to Middleton, NS.
Hugh enjoyed mentoring younger journalists and journalism students. He lectured at Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, and Grant MacEwan Community College, Edmonton. A member of the Radio-Television News Directors’ Association of Canada Foundation (RTNDA) since 1976, he received their Distinguished Service Award in 1994.
A passion for knowledge and for the preservation and communication of history inspired Hugh’s hobbies throughout his life—from letter-writing to Skype—including photography, website creation, genealogy, videography, and extensive email correspondence.
His health deteriorating due to prostate cancer, Hugh moved to Ottawa in October 2012 to be closer to family.
At his request, no memorial service will be held. Condolences and remembrances are invited: http://lifeplace.basicfunerals.com/component/obituary/detail/ottawa/hugh-doherty/1366.
