Gladys "Laddie" Hughes
Jan. 24, 1925-July 17, 2016
Palo Alto, California
Laddie Hughes passed away on July 17, surrounded by her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and community member. Those she knew and loved will remember her love for her husband and family, her fondness of music, her organizing genius, dedication to learning, commitment to social justice, leadership with respect to women’s rights and active involvement in politics.
Laddie was born on January 24, 1925, in Minnesota to Norwegian immigrants Carl T. and Hilda Lund. She grew up in the small, Northern Minnesota farming community of Trail and often credited her self reliance, work ethic and sense of humor to growing up on the farm as the youngest of nine children. Laddie took pride in her educational success, serving as the salutatorian at Gonvick High School and early enrollment in the “big University of Minnesota.” While attending nursing school in 1943, Laddie was recruited into the U.S. Cadet Nursing Corps which led her West to positions at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in San Francisco and Stanford Hospital.
She met her husband, Donald Hughes, while dancing with friends at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. They enjoyed a wonderful San Francisco courtship and were married on September 2, 1950. The two continued dancing in each other’s arms until the very last weeks. Together, Laddie and Don raised five children and an adopted niece, teaching them good Midwestern values and the importance of family.
Laddie was devoted to and widely known for her public service. Her tireless advocacy for equal rights for women and her involvement in local and national politics were unique for the day and transformational for women leaders who have followed. Her multi-tiered efforts in Peninsula, California and National Republican politics earned her the friendship and respect of many people including, notably, President Ronald Reagan, President George H. Bush and Gov. George Deukmejian, who appointed her to the U.S. President’s Committee on National Medal of Science (Reagan), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Nursing Division (Bush) and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (Deukmejian). She served as president of the Palo Alto Republican Women’s Club and founded the Republican Women’s Task Force of the Peninsula. In 1978, she became the first female candidate to run for the California’s 10th State Senate district seat. She cut short a 1984 bid for California’s 11th State Senate district seat and ran a full primary campaign in 1986 for the U.S. 12th congressional district. Laddie worked consistently and effectively to improve health and living conditions for women around the world. She served as Palo Alto representative to the United Nations’ Decade for Women in Copenhagen in 1981 and the Regional Representative of Western United States for the International Alliance for Women. Her efforts on behalf of women worldwide led her to global tours and speaking engagements in The Hague, Netherlands, Beijing, China and Nairobi, Kenya, where she’d use toastmaster skills to articulate the value of education and the importance of including women in the decision making process.
Remarkably, Laddie also found time to stay physically healthy and happy. She loved swimming and softball, but she especially looked forward to her weekly round of golf at the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course. Laddie comprehensively researched her Norwegian Lund family tree and lovingly chronicled its history immigrating to and settling in Minnesota in several volumes shared with relatives. Her children fondly remember the delicious krumkake and other delights she’d bake during the holidays to celebrate her Norwegian heritage. Laddie is survived by her husband Donald; five children Suzanne (Robert), Anthony (Kathleen), Karen (David), Alan (Terri) and Heather, as well as 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Laddie’s life will be held in the University Room at the Vi at Palo Alto on Saturday, August 27th at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the University of Minnesota School of Nursing or any other deserving organization aligned with Laddie’s passion for social justice, learning and public service.
Tags: public service
