Hugh Francis Schick

     Hugh F. Schick, age 92, peacefully left this world on April 30, 2025, having lived a full life marked by incessant laughter, the rewards of a close-knit family, relentless personal drive, and professional success.

     A Valentine baby, Hugh Francis Schick was born February 14, 1933, in Hamburg, NY, the youngest of three children born to Joseph Francis and Marcella Slater Schick. The family weathered the Great Depression together, until a neighborhood accident took his father when Hugh was just two years old. Raised by a single mother in an era before the women’s movement, Marcella and her children would come to define the meaning of “Schick Strong.”

     Nicknamed “Handsome,” Hugh worked nearly his entire life. His first job, at just five years old, was selling The Saturday Evening Post door-to-door—one customer was five miles from home. A fierce competitor from the beginning, Hugh won “Best Salesman” that year, setting a personal standard of excellence he would uphold for the rest of his life.

     After graduating from Hamburg High School, Hugh hitchhiked to Bowling Green University having been awarded a full football scholarship. There, he pledged Delta Tau Delta fraternity and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, supporting himself with side jobs, including hand-painting signs for beer money.

     He proudly enlisted in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of First Lieutenant before receiving an honorable discharge. Hugh was a lifelong patriot, deeply grateful for the freedoms and opportunities afforded by the United States—freedoms he used to forge his own success.

     Hugh launched his advertising career alongside then-copywriter-turned-author Edward D. Hoch. Eddie and wife Patricia introduced Hugh to Nancy Holly, the love of his life. Together, Hugh and Nancy moved to New York City, and then to East Brunswick, NJ, where they raised three children, three German Shorthaired Pointers, two cats—and shared 63 beautiful years of marriage.

     With Nancy as his biggest fan, Hugh established himself as a trailblazing creative on Madison Avenue during advertising’s golden era of the 1960s and 70s. He was the creative mind behind numerous iconic brand campaigns across a variety of industries: outdoor sports (Garcia, Savage Arms), automotive (Michelin), beverages (Bass Ale, Heineken), travel and currency exchange (Thomas Cook), and more. He was even the face of Heineken Beer ads throughout the 60s and 70s. His acclaimed Orrefors Crystal advertisement remains featured in Kleppner’s Advertising Procedure, a textbook still used in university classrooms today. His creativity was boundless across all media, including architecture, landscape design, watercolor painting, illustration, and more.

     A true outdoorsman, Hugh was an avid hunter and accomplished fly fisherman. He spent countless weekends casting a Grey Wolf fly over the legendary Beaver Kill and Willowemoc streams, and explored iconic waters in Sweden, Canada, Newfoundland, and across the American West. He practiced relentlessly—never satisfied, never finished—always perfecting what others considered mastery. Whether honing his casting in the backyard or refining his marksmanship in the basement, Hugh’s pursuit of excellence was unwavering. He believed deeply in precision, preparation, and passion.

     While we mourn the loss of Hugh on this earth, we joyfully celebrate a life well lived.

     Visitation will be held May 8, from 5:00–7:00 PM at Snyder Bean Funeral Home, 890 Isabel Drive, Lebanon, PA.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated May 9, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 2596 Cornwall Road, Cornwall, PA. There will be a time of visitation at the church from 10:30 AM until the time of Mass. Followed by graveside services with full military honors.

     Hugh is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy Holly Schick, and their children: Holly (Steve), Greg (Kathy), and Amy (Jeff). He leaves behind grandchildren Matthew and Madison; nieces and nephews Joe (Sharlene), Bill (Katrina), John (Wendy), Billy (Robin), Susan (Mark), Gail, Todd (Tilyn), Jill (Chad), Melanie (John), Heather (Chris), and Christopher; Kim (Rick), Brian (Sue), Craig, Cindy (Joe), as well as great-nieces and nephews including Meaghan, Joe (Courtney), Casey, Michael, Ariana, Caitlyn (Chris), Chase (Laura), Wesley, Haley (Anthony), Jake, Troy, Trevor, Tianna, Samantha, Cameron, Gage, Brianna, Nathaniel, Faith, Garrett, Brian, and Tyler, and great-great-nieces and nephews: Carter, Brielle, Joseph, Maverick, Maeve, Roslyn, Freya, Charity and Parker.

     We welcome your memories and stories in reflection of a life lived fully, joyfully, and purposefully—a life to celebrate, honor, and emulate as we carry his legacy forward.