Kit Hough

1932-2024

Cass Sheffield Hough, Jr. (Kit), was born on May 16, 1932 in Ann Arbor, MI to Margaret Reid and Cass Sheffield Hough. Kit passed away on April 24th, 2024 in Kalamazoo, MI.

He was almost 92 years old. His adored sister, Emily Egan lives in Niles, MI. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Joan Prescott Hough ( Joanie), in 2014.

Kit attended the University of Michigan, following his own parents, who met as students there. He met his future wife, Joan, on a blind date in the fall of their freshman year and they were married after their junior year in college. After graduation, then military service in the Air Force, they moved to Kalamazoo where he began working in the Employee Relations Division of the Upjohn Company, soon rising to become one of the youngest Vice Presidents in the Company’s history.

Kit was devoted to his family. As a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and provider he excelled. The fortunate three who called him Dad are Wesley Cass (Casey) Hough (Marlow) of Santa Monica, CA, James Edward Hough (Argie) of Calicoon, NY and Susan Hough Harris (Dave) of Overland Park, KS. The lucky four who called him Bapa are Christopher Harris, Caitlin Iliff, Lily Alberts,and Sarah Alberts. The special two who called him Gapa are Charlotte Iliff, and Caroline Iliff. He celebrated each of them with a banjo serenade on their birthdays.

Kit valued people based on their character, not their income or social status, and he made a point of remembering names and personal details of all the people he encountered. He made many contributions to the Kalamazoo community, including by actively supporting school desegregation in the 1970’s, serving as President of Big Brothers of Kalamazoo, and leading many fundraising campaigns for the United Way of Kalamazoo. Kit also served on the Board of the National Medical Fellowships program, and funded scholarships to the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

Kit was a resident of Kalamazoo and of Glen Arbor, MI. One of his favorite activities was a nightly ritual with family and friends of enjoying the perfect beauty of the technicolor sunsets over Sleeping Bear Bay from the deck of the family home on LakeMichigan. KitmovedtoFriendship Village after Joanie passed away. He made many good friends, bonding with residents and staff alike over shared enthusiasm for the U of M football team (Go Blue!) and he enjoyed singing and playing spoons with the Kitchen Band.

Kit was friendly, kind, thoughtful, and generous. He had a gift for making people feel seen and valued, and recognizing and appreciating their contribution whether to an organization, a team, or a community. He loved his family, the Friendship Village community, the Upjohn Company and all of its terrific employees, and watching the Michigan Wolverines, especially during the last season becoming National Champions. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Way of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo’s Loaves and Fishes, or a charity of choice. Family and friends will be invited to a celebration of Kit’s life at Friendship Village at a later date.