Hugh was literally my first friend when my family moved to the US from Costa Rica. He introduced me to the YMCA downtown, we went to churchtogether at Sts. Peter and Paul. We both share an interest in stamp collecting.
Hugh Panton and myself had been besrt friends since we both went to St Peter & Paul together ever since first grade!!!! We stayed friends and his wife Jo Ellen and I were also best frinds!! My X husband and I would double date often with Hugh and Jo Ellen. Hugh would drive me to Miami Dade Jr College and we both graduated from MDJC in 1962... He loved to fish on his magnificent boat and me and X husband would often accompany him and Jo Ellen on boating trips!!! We stayed best friends until the very end!!! Hugh came from humble beginnings like most of us did from back in the day and made it big time. He loved country singer, Johnny Cash and we would often be listening to him on radio going back and forth from MDJC. Hugh passed away about I believe around 7 or 8 years ago, maybe more as time goes so fast these days. On a humorous note, Jimmy Bernhardt was on a fishing trip with Hugh< (actually all of us that grew up with Hugh from P&P would always call him Hugey), Jimmy got really sick on Hugh's boat and would have loved to go back to land, but Hugey would have none one of it, fishing was the prkiority, period.... Rest in peace my friend and see ya in tnhe not so distantant future!!!!!
I too was friends with Jo Ellen, although her name wouldn't come to my brain, thank you Lucita, I never went on their boat, but learned many years ago, if you feel seasick, jump overboard and get all wet. Get back in the boat and you'll feel fine.
Carlos A. Suarez
Hugh was literally my first friend when my family moved to the US from Costa Rica. He introduced me to the YMCA downtown, we went to churchtogether at Sts. Peter and Paul. We both share an interest in stamp collecting.
Sorry to see him go so soon.
Lucita Moran
Hugh Panton and myself had been besrt friends since we both went to St Peter & Paul together ever since first grade!!!! We stayed friends and his wife Jo Ellen and I were also best frinds!! My X husband and I would double date often with Hugh and Jo Ellen. Hugh would drive me to Miami Dade Jr College and we both graduated from MDJC in 1962... He loved to fish on his magnificent boat and me and X husband would often accompany him and Jo Ellen on boating trips!!! We stayed best friends until the very end!!! Hugh came from humble beginnings like most of us did from back in the day and made it big time. He loved country singer, Johnny Cash and we would often be listening to him on radio going back and forth from MDJC. Hugh passed away about I believe around 7 or 8 years ago, maybe more as time goes so fast these days. On a humorous note, Jimmy Bernhardt was on a fishing trip with Hugh< (actually all of us that grew up with Hugh from P&P would always call him Hugey), Jimmy got really sick on Hugh's boat and would have loved to go back to land, but Hugey would have none one of it, fishing was the prkiority, period.... Rest in peace my friend and see ya in tnhe not so distantant future!!!!!
Sharon Grubbs ('61) (Jeffries)
I too was friends with Jo Ellen, although her name wouldn't come to my brain, thank you Lucita, I never went on their boat, but learned many years ago, if you feel seasick, jump overboard and get all wet. Get back in the boat and you'll feel fine.