It is with great sadness that the family of Donald Clemens Hughlett announces his passing on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at Seabury Skilled Nursing, Bloomfield following open heart surgery at age 86. Born in Atlanta, GA, Don moved with his family at age two to Summit, NJ, where he graduated from Summit High School. He then attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA for three years and then transferred to Rhode Island School of Design, where he earned his Architecture Degree. He met his wife, Helen, when they worked together at Silver Bay Association in Lake George during many summers. They were married in February 1961 when the Berlin Wall Crisis was beginning. Don enlisted in the U.S. Army for three years and was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC and then sent to West Germany where he and Helen lived for two years while he served in the 39th Engineering Company. Don and Helen’s son Neal was born in Heidelberg, Germany. Upon completion of his military service, they moved to Connecticut where he worked as an architect for several firms and was a partner in McHugh and Associates. Later he worked on his own and did many projects in the Hartford area and the Northwest corner of CT. He loved being an architect and was considered to be conscientious, thorough and creative. He was an Emeritus member of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) in Connecticut.

One of Don’s greatest joys was working with young people! He was thrilled when Haig Shahverdian, founder of the West Hartford Arts Theater Program, asked him to join the “SAF Team” and help to design and build sets for summer musicals and dramas. He was also happily involved with musicals, for many years, at Conard High School and loved teaching young people how to build sets. Our piano is filled with pictures of wonderful young people from SAF and Hall’s “Pops and Jazz” to Conard musicals from “Fiddler on the Roof” to “Cats” to “Singing in the Rain” and “The Drowsy Chaperone”.

Don is survived by his wife, Helen; his son, Neal and wife Kerri Valentino; and his twin grandchildren, Aidan and Nevan. His brother Jack and sister Clarice Morgan predeceased him. Don is also survived by Jack’s children, Melanie McEvoy and Christopher Hughlett.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, (January 17), from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford. A Graveside Service will be Thursday, (January 18), 11:00 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Avenue, West Hartford.

Memorial donations can be made to the American Mural Project, 90 Whiting Street, Winsted CT 06098 or at americanmuralproject.org/donate. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com