Nancy Hughes, widow of filmmaker John Hughes, dies

Nancy Hughes – the widow of acclaimed filmmaker John Hughes – died Sept. 15 at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital.

Although born in Northbrook and a longtime resident of Lake Forest, one of Hughes’ several homes was a family farm in Harvard.

In 1970, Hughes married her husband, John, who would go on to direct a number of 1980s hits such as “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” He also was the screenwriter behind “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Home Alone” and numerous other films.

The final credit for Hughes’ semi-autobiographical film, “She’s Having a Baby,” read “Inspiration: Nancy Hughes.”

John Hughes died in 2009.

In her later years, Hughes made significant contributions to the Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, which houses the John and Nancy Hughes Pavilion, and the Hughes Auditorium at the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center of Northwestern University in Chicago.

Other projects she would be involved in include the Gorton Community Cener and the John and Nancy Hughes Clubhouse at the Deerpath Golf Course in Lake Forest.

A day before her passing, the Hughes Gateway at Forest Park Beach – which was rebuilt in part because of Hughes following flooding – was dedicated.

She is survived by two children and four grandchildren.