We are saddened to notify you of the passing of John Hague on Sunday, July 19. John was a long time Indy Rotarian, a Past President of the Club and Past President of the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation.
Please keep John’s family in your thoughts and prayers.
Dr. John D. Hague
91, passed away July 19, 2020. He was born on June 20, 1929 to parents Girstle and Helen Dawson Hague.
He was an Electrical Engineering graduate of Purdue University and received three high honors from the University. He was named a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus; an Outstanding Electrical Engineer; and he was awarded a Doctor of Engineering degree in recognition of his management and technological achievements. He held 5 patents in the field of electronic systems.
Dr. Hague was employed by the Naval Avionics Center for 34 years and served as the Director of Engineering and the Executive Director (COO) of the Center. He chaired a number of Naval Air Systems Commands corporate level studies, including those for Future Avionics Systems and Technologies; Advanced Software Development Concepts; and Quality Management for Complex Electronic Systems. He was active in the field of advanced electronic technologies such as hierarchically architectured, autodiagnostic and auto-reconfigurable systems. He was named a Meritorious Executive of the Senior Executive Service by the President of the United States and was presented with the Navy’s Distinguished Civilian Service Award, which is the highest award that can be granted by the Secretary of the Navy.
Over the years, he repeatedly remarked that he really enjoyed what he was doing and that he woke up every morning eager to get to work “to see what was happening”. He had a sign hanging in his office that said “Nobody said that this would be easy”. One of his observations was that it is amazing how much one person can accomplish if he or she doesn’t care who gets the credit. He had very high personal, business and ethical standards and was known for the high level of trust that he placed in those who worked with him and for him.
Following his retirement from the Naval Avionics Center top management position in 1984, he was appointed to the position of President of the Corporation for Science & Technology by Governor Robert Orr. After retiring from that position, he served as Chairman of the Board of that Corporation for a period of three years. For the next twenty years, he served as the President of Management & Technological Consultation Services, LLC, retiring for the third time in 2009. Indiana Governors Orr, Bayh and O’Bannon each bestowed upon him the Sagamore of the Wabash Award.
Dr. Hague was active in community affairs and served on a number of corporate Boards. He served in many civic roles, including President of the Indianapolis Rotary Club; President of the Rotary Foundation of Indianapolis; Chairman of the Board of Community Hospitals of Indianapolis; Treasurer and Board Member of Union Chapel Cemetery; and a member of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, the Consortium for Computer & High Technology Education, the Midwest Technology Development Institute; the Advisory Boards of the Dean of Engineering, Purdue University and the Dean of Education, Indiana University. He was a member of
Meridian Street United Methodist Church and previously was a 64 year member of North United Methodist Church and served on the NUMC Board of Trustees.
He especially treasured the time he spent with his wife and family and lived in the home in Broad Ripple Village in which he was raised as a child. He and Rosemary were the third generation to live in that home. He enjoyed his applied research and engineering years, the guiding of troubled organizations back to robust health, the time spent at the family home on Lake Wawasee, and collecting and tinkering with his antique and classic motor cars.
A lifelong resident of Indianapolis, he was married to his loving wife of 69 years, Rosemary Letsinger Hague, whom he met and fell hopelessly in love with when he was a senior in high school. He was survived by his two children, Susan Hague Machledt (Fredric) and Alan Hague (Heidi); three grandchildren: Maggie Girard (Chuck), Julie Sherrill (Matthew), and John Samuel Hague; two great-grandchildren: Ian and Cecily Rosemary Girard.
In accordance with the Dr. Hague’s request, there will be no visitation or funeral. The family requests no flowers. A private family service will be held at the time of his burial in Union Chapel Cemetery.
