John Clinton Hough, husband, father, grandfather, and lifelong explorer, died on September 18, 2026, at the age of 78. John was born in Norfolk, VA, to John Byron Hough and Sarah “Sally” Katheryn Keller Hough.
John studied physics at Boston University and pursued graduate studies in geophysics at the University of Houston. He began his professional career with Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN) in 1967, while still in college. His work as a marine exploration geophysicist, and later in acoustics and other forms of signal processing, took him offshore throughout the world. Later in his career, he worked on projects involving air warfare at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at Point Mugu, CA, and undersea warfare at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI. John spent nearly his entire professional career with BBN, deeply enjoying his work and admiring the brilliance of his colleagues. Their work was recognized when the scientists and engineers at Raytheon BBN Technologies received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation for sustained innovation in acoustics, signal processing, and information technology.
His curiosity extended well beyond his professional life. John was an avid reader but explored by doing. At various points, he ran a hoagie shop, raised chickens and cows, coached high school ice hockey, and did the hardscaping at his Camarillo home. He found real joy in his family, enthusiastically involving himself in his sons’ sports and, later, in the lives of his grandsons.
John and Arleen were devoted to each other for 60 years and were always holding hands. For the last 30 years, they made their home in Portsmouth, RI, where they found a community that showed them tremendous kindness. Those who knew John will remember his pleasant, easygoing nature, his remarkable steadiness, and his quiet willingness to help.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Arleen Hough; his son Michael and his wife, Maria, and their sons, Nicholas and Alexander; his son David and his wife, Melissa, and their sons, Elijah and Braden; his brothers, Christopher and his wife, Amity, and Gerald and his wife, Tamara; his sister, Elizabeth Schelper; and his French brother, Jean-François Seznec, and his wife, Thackray. He was predeceased by his brother, Roland, and his parents.
In his later years, as John lived with Alzheimer’s disease, he and his family experienced extraordinary kindness from the people who cared for him. His family will always be grateful to the staff of the Rhode Island Veterans Home, whose kindness, compassion, and respect for John’s dignity meant more than they can adequately express.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, September 23, at 10:30 a.m. at Beth Olam Cemetery, 181 Wyatt Rd, Middletown, RI. Visitation will follow at the Hough family home from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in John’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/.
Arrangements are by the Chevra Kadisha Association of Newport County.
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