About
tom Mchugh

January 29, 1938 – May 14, 2021

Born on January 29, 1938, to Peter Joseph McHugh and Sally Ellen Sutphin McHugh in Chester, Pa., Tom grew up the youngest of four in a musical family, alongside Peter (Pete), James (Jimmy), and Sally (Sissy). He spent his early years at Girard College in Philadelphia, where he played trumpet in the marching band and developed a deep love and appreciation for music, education and public service.

In 1987 he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Temple University and went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Tom first came to the Eastern Shore in the 1960s as a professor at Washington College. In 1974, his career took him to Vassar College, where he remained for 20 years as a professor, chair of the Education and American Culture departments, founding member of the bluegrass/folk group the Raymond Avenue Ramblers and mentor to students and faculty alike.

Tom became the first recipient of the Outstanding New York Teacher/Educator award in 1987. On his sabbaticals, Tom taught English to Poughkeepsie High School students, worked with sixth-grade Native American students on the Colville reservation in Washington state and taught American studies in Hungary as a Fulbright scholar. Upon his 1993 retirement, he returned to Kent County and made a home in Rock Hall to raise his daughters.

Tom reflected on his retirement: “When I retired early from Vassar, I vowed to my students that I would take the things I learned there and convert them for use in some other setting. Those things Vassar taught me were a love of community service, that every act is a teaching act, that the best learning takes place in settings that are artistic and creative, and that the arts are critical to any learning atmosphere.”

Though retired, Tom wasn’t finished, and in 1997 proudly brought a lifelong vision to fruition, a reality that many know and love as The Mainstay: Home of Musical Magic, a nonprofit community center for the arts in Rock Hall, MD, regarded by locals as a treasure, by musicians as one of the best jazz venues on the East Coast, and the county as an important economic engine. Tom brought a diverse and eclectic mix of musicians to The Mainstay, representing almost every genre of music from classical to doo-wop, with an emphasis on jazz as “America’s music,” and hailing from cities and countries around the world, including Hungary, Russia and Ireland, but especially the Eastern Shore and the Baltimore/Washington/Philadelphia area. In 1998, Tom worked alongside Mainstay volunteers to host the first annual FallFest, “A Celebration of Family and Community,” a local tradition/celebration that still stands today. At 81 years old, Tom brought his vivacious energy to the 2019 FallFest celebration where he conducted a performance alongside the local Rock Hall Elementary School Kazoo Band, performed a magic show with his notorious “Monkey Baby” and played harmonica on The Mainstay outdoor stage while people of all ages danced in the street.

When Tom retired (again) as executive director of The Mainstay at the end of 2015, he moved onto his next gig, as facilitator for fine arts for Kent County Public Schools where he partnered with Gina Jachimowicz to lead the Arts in Motion program. Through this program he facilitated a dialogue between music, art and drama teachers and working artists all over the county. In his spare time, he took his show on the road, bringing his banjo, harmonica and humor to various senior living residences around the county and schools in Ireland and Hungary.  And, when he performed at the annual Clifden Arts Festival, crowds sang along to “The Chester River Song,” “Sam, Sam Spaghetti Head” and other beloved sing-a-longs.