Amherst, MA – Frank Richard Hugus II passed away on September 21, 2026. He was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania to Dorothy A. Kelsey and Frank R. Hugus I in 1941.
He earned his doctorate in Germanic Languages and Literatures from the University of Chicago. He has offered courses in Scandinavian and German subjects at University of Massachusetts Amherst since 1970. Over years he has taught a wide of ranging from “Old Norse” to “Scandinavian Mythology” to “Hans Christian Andersen” to “The History Of the German Language” to “Trolls, Giants, and Dwarves” and many more. He received several research grants to do research in Denmark and Iceland. He later focused his research on 19th and 20th century Danish Literature and Icelandic Literary topics. He also translated a number of novels and short stories from Danish into English. He published a new translation Han Christian Andersen’s debut Novel “The Improvisator” which was written in 1935.
During his 50 years of service at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, he served on many university committees as well as Presiding Officer of the Faculty Senate from 1994 to 1997. He also served as Director of International Office and Associate provost for International Programs from 2002 to 2010. He traveled to many countries including China, Germany, Denmark, and Iceland.
Frank continued to write and translate Danish plays and other Hans Christian Andersen novels after leaving the University.
Many evenings were spent at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as well as traveling abroad.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years and his daughter, Jennifer K. Hugus, his sister Sara Bosworth, and brothers Timothy Hugus, and Marc Hugus.
A gathering of friends will be held on a time in the future.
Donations can be made in his memory to the Metropolitan Opera. (www.metopera.org)
Memorial guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com
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