Gregory John McHugo, 77, passed away peacefully at his home in Strafford, Vermont on April 5, 2026 with family by his side. Gregory was a person of deep thought and quick wit whose essence was anchored in the Vermont soil.

Greg was a Vermonter to his core. Born in Barre, VT on November 24, 1948 to John and Patricia Bixby McHugo, he was raised in Barre and Burlington. He graduated from Rice Memorial High School in 1966 and went on to study at the University of Vermont, graduating in 1970. Following a family tradition of service, he enrolled in R.O.T.C. at UVM and as a senior was selected as Cadet Corp Commander. Upon graduation he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. This period of service acted as a bridge to a lifelong commitment to helping others through the study of the human mind, leading him to Dartmouth College, where he earned his PhD in Psychology in 1980.

Greg spent his distinguished career as a Research Professor, specializing in research methodology, at Dartmouth College and the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, part of Geisel Medical School. He devoted decades to mental health services and rehabilitation research, focusing on those facing the dual challenges of mental illness and addiction, as well as studying supported employment services. He was a mentor to many young people throughout his career. Though his name appeared on hundreds of academic publications, those who knew him best understood that his greatest "theories" were more likely to be debated over a good meal, sitting on the back porch with friends, or during a long round of golf.

Long before he was an academic or a father, Greg was a boy of Caspian Lake—and he remained so his entire life. Greensboro was the steady rhythm of Greg's life; from the adventurous explorations of his boyhood to the quiet walks of his later years. His annual return to Caspian Lake was both a rejuvenation and a return to a simpler, more grounded pace of life. His lifelong passion for golf was forged amid the undulating fairways of the Mountain View Country Club. He took immense pride in passing down to his children the Greensboro traditions of swimming, hiking, boating, walking the shoreline path, and playing golf and tennis.

At home Greg was a man of simple pleasures. He was a gardener who understood the patience of the seasons, a home cook whose kitchen often smelled of fresh pancakes, and a music lover who found peace in the notes of soft blues and classic rock. He loved traveling with his family. Greg maintained close relationships with both professional colleagues and college friends throughout his life. In retirement he became a voracious reader and he delighted in local traditions: boiling sap for syrup, pressing apples for cider, and nurturing his garden. He had a legendary talent for speaking like Donald Duck—a feat that never failed to delight his family.

Greg measured success not in data points, but in the depth of his connections and his unwavering devotion to family. He shared his early adulthood with Ann Yost McHugo, raising their two children, Megan and Ryan with shared dedication. In 1987 Greg married Mary Edwards Conrad. Over their 38 years of marriage they built a life defined by love, adventure, and quiet evenings.
They welcomed their daughter Clover in 1988 and together created a home where intellectual spirit and unique humor flourished.

His three children, Megan M. Morrison, Ryan G. McHugo and Clover C. McHugo were his greatest pride and the true continuation of his legacy. Greg's curious nature and Vermont grit also live on in his grandchildren—Charlotte, Adaline, and Lucas McHugo, and Shannon and Dylan Morrison—as well as his step-grandson, Brandon Morrison. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy P. McHugo, and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Whether he was carving a line down a ski slope, lining up a putt, or analyzing complex data, Greg did so with a thoughtful mind and a funny remark at the ready. He taught his family that one can be a serious scientist and still make a room erupt in laughter with a playful spirit. He will be deeply missed and remembered with great love.

A celebration of Greg's life will be held in the early summer.

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