Brian Murphy Hughes, devoted husband, father, and public servant, passed away at home in Princeton, NJ, at the age of 69.
A longtime Mercer County resident and a beloved fixture in the community, he served in public office for over 25 years, carrying forward his family’s legacy of service.
He was an unassuming, witty, and deeply kind person, and brought those same qualities to his work on behalf of the people of Mercer County. His vision of government was one that centered on the residents who needed it most, always looking to expand services for disadvantaged communities and ensure that everyone — no matter their background — had an opportunity to pursue the American Dream.
The son of former New Jersey Governor and Supreme Court Justice Richard J. Hughes, he was born in Trenton on May 5, 1956. The third youngest sibling of Richard J. and Betty Hughes’ combined family of 10 children, he grew up in Trenton and Princeton surrounded by a tight-knit family deeply committed to one another and to public service. He attended high school in Princeton and as a proud graduate of Thomas Edison State University, he was a champion for expanding access to educational opportunities in Mercer County.
Before his time in government, Brian lived and worked in Washington, DC, where he became a lifelong fan of the Baltimore Orioles. Returning to Mercer County, he met his wife of nearly 35 years, Pamela Rago Hughes, when they worked together at the Alchemist and Barrister restaurant in Princeton. Married on August, 25, 1990, the couple shared a long love affair that spanned nearly 35 years — an unwavering commitment through thick and thin. Their son, Sullivan Parsons Hughes, was born in 1999, and grew up in Princeton in a home surrounded by immense love.
Having overcome his own personal struggles with addiction, Brian proudly served on the Governor’s Council for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. He was the Democratic nominee for Congress in New Jersey’s 4th District in 1992, before being elected to the County Board of Commissioners in Mercer in 1997, where he served two terms.
He was first elected as Mercer County Executive in 2003, narrowly winning an office that had been held by Republicans for 24 years. Reelected four times, he served more than 20 years as the County’s chief executive. In that time, he persevered through a challenging fight with profound chronic pain stemming from trigeminal neuralgia to bring about an exemplary record of accomplishments.
Under his leadership, Mercer County became a model of economic growth, environmental stewardship, and responsive government. He oversaw major infrastructure projects, including the expansion of Trenton-Mercer Airport and replacing Trenton’s century-old criminal courthouse with a new, state-of-the-art facility. Throughout his final years in office, he directed the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to ensure access to testing and vaccinations.
Always prioritizing County residents in need, he mobilized millions of dollars on behalf of older adults, at-risk children and teens, and low-income families. His efforts helped to reduce family homelessness in Mercer by 74 percent. With the belief that all people deserve equal opportunity and equal protection, he spearheaded efforts to diversify county government, and ensure that women and minority communities were reflected in leadership. He also played a vital role in making benefits available to LGBTQ+ county employees in domestic partnerships in 2006.
As County Executive — and a lifelong animal lover — he championed an ambitious open space preservation initiative that protected more than 5,700 additional acres of land. Under his leadership, the amount of permanently preserved land in Mercer County grew to 40,000 acres, representing 27 percent of the county’s total area.
Brian was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Richard, Robert, and Thomas Hughes, and Timothy Murphy. He is survived by his wife Pamela, son Sullivan, brother John Hughes and wife Claudia, brothers Michael Murphy and Patrick Murphy, sister Mary Hughes, sister Helen Hughes Patterson and husband David, sister-in-law Michelle Rago, mother-in-law Sharon Naeole and partner Jeffrey Jost, many nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog, Nora.
His legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched with his quiet confidence, dry humor, and immeasurable kindness.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the D&R Greenway Land Trust. Donations can be made “In memory of Brian Hughes” via drgreenway.org, by phone at (609) 924-4646, or by mail to D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
