Remembering Fr. Dan Hurley

Fr. Dan Hurley passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2010.

Please leave your thoughts, prayers, condolences and reflections about Hurls here on the Mountain blog.

Comments

[Tom Bell]

Although I did not have the pleasure of getting to know Fr. Dan personally during my time at St. Bonaventure, I do remember his presence on campus. Like Fr. Irenaeus Herscher, he had that rare ability to touch the lives of everyone – even those who had only brief contact with him. He radiated the beauty, hope and optimism of the Franciscan spirit and in that way, he added much to the Bonaventure experience for many generations of students. May he rest in peace!

My sincere condolences to everyone on campus and at the Mountain.

Pax et bonum,
Tom Bell ‘77

[Anonymous]

We enjoyed the brief time we spent with you, Fr. Dan. We are so grateful to have known you.

Peace,
Anthony Saleh ('01) and Kate Sixt ('01)

[Anonymous]

Rest in peace, Hurles - I'll never forget you. You were a second Grandfather to me, and for that, I can't thank you enough. You took me under your wing and helped me find my home-away-from-home. You will be missed.

[jsmolinski]

fr. dan hurley -- what a great, great man! as caring and wise as any man i've known. i'll remember him fondly forever. rest in peace, hurls.

mt. irenaeus is and has been two things to me: a place, and a way of life.

while the spirit of "the mountain" permeates 'valleys,' the place, too, has enormous meaning for me. my adult spirituality was forged there. i will forever be thankful for its existence and for its maintenance for the benefit of bonas students and anyone who would come. i will remember hurls as a chief developer and overseer of everything that the place has come to be. to be sure, he has left his mark for future generations!

jim smolinski '05

[Bill Barrett]

I learned of Dan's death this morning while with Dismas Bonner, a Sacred Heart province friar, who recalled that Dan had been in charge of friars in formation at Bona's many years ago when Dismas was there (maybe 60 years ago). We knew him at very different stages of his -- and our -- lives, but we both remembered him with great affection and appreciation.

While I know that Dan shares more fully in Resurrection life, it's a great great loss to all he left behind, especially all of you living on the Mountain. I hold you in prayer -- it's how we show love for our friends.

[Anonymous]

Fr. Dan;

Thank you for the Gift you made of your life to Mt Irenaeus and the whole St. Bonaventure Community. We love you and will miss you.

Pax et Bonum,
Jim O'Connell '90

[Anonymous]

Rest in peace Fr. Dan. You touched the lives of so many. I will never forget your warm and welcoming smile. Your beautiful Franciscan spirit will live forever on the Bonaventure campus and at Mt. Irenaeus. My deepest condolences to Fr. Dan Riley and Brother Joe and all who lived and worked so closely with him over the years. Nancy Margro '91

[Anonymous]

I was very saddened to learn of Fr. Dan Hurley's passing. He was the epitome of Franciscan humility, selfless service to others, and grace.

I remember Fr. Dan(after Fr. Gerald McCaffery) accompanying the men's swim team on its'away meet trips, saying Mass before our competitions.
Fr. Dan was also the resident priest in Shay Hall
and was the only person with cable tv in 1972, 1973. Fr. Dan graciously allowed us somewhat raucous Shay residents to watch Monday night football in his apartment. The trade-off was Mass at halftime. Fr. Dan WAS what we call "the Bona spirit of community."

Pray for us Fr. Dan from your place in heaven.

John Martin
Class of '73

[Anonymous]

If SBU had nominations for "The Ideal Bonaventure Man of the Century", Hurls would get my vote. A great man with a great sense of humor. At a recent Mountain Board of Trustees meeting all the friars and Board members were asked to respond to the question, "Why am I here this morning". Most people responded by saying they wanted to sustain and grow the mission and the ministry of the Mountain. When it was Fr. Dan's turn he answered, "I am here this morning because I live here" Then he started laughing and that infectious laugh of his caused everyone else to start laughing.

Like St. Francis, Hurls was simple, yet profound. He was loving and joyful and I always felt very happy after talking to him.

My condolences to Dan,Lou,Joe,Bob,Kevin and the entire Hurley family.

Mike Hahn '64

[Anonymous]

Beloved Fr. Daniel, I have no doubt you are with God, and I pray that I may see you again in Heaven someday. Rest peacefully in the arms of our Lord. Your family here will miss you dearly until we see you again.

-Darren Gayne, '04

[Marv Stocker '65]

Hurls, thank you for your devoted 30 years of service as Chaplain of the National Alumni Association. You always brought warmth, a smile and sometimes great pies to our meetings. You are in our prayers and will be dearly missed. Marv Stocker '65

[Anonymous]

To my family at the Mountain: May you rejoice in knowing that Hurls takes the Mountain's spirit to the heavens. My life is a better one because of knowing Father Dan Hurley. Peace and all good things-
Chris Mominey '93

[Kathy Boone]

So sad to hear of Fr. Dan's passing, so grateful for his long and abundant life. I shall miss him and feel very blessed to have been able to share a little of the earthly journey with him. Love and prayers with all at the Mountain.
Kathy Boone
Buffalo, NY

[Anonymous]

Joe M.
What an honor to have known Dan for many years. What a great sense of humor and appreciation for life. But honestly, he couldn't hang on for one more day and go on Pi Day 3-14?
I might have to have some ice cream during lent this year for him.

[Tom Peterkin '78]

What a peaceful, gentle, beautiful human being! Fr. Dan is the embodiment of those Franciscan ideals that any of us who are in any way affiliated with SBU can only hope to attain. It is an honor to have known this humble servant. Tom Peterkin '78

[Anonymous]

Remembering Father Dan Hurley,
It was only two weeks ago we saw father Dan Riley in San Diego,CA and asked him to give you our best. "Big D" (as Paul "Wink" Winkler used to call you)you are loved and will be missed. Thanks for the fond memories in Shay/Loughlin when you were the Res.Dir. and we were RA's. You embodied the "Franciscan Spirit" of a joyful life well lived in prayer & service to others - always there with a smile, a kind word of encouragement, a gleeful laugh or subtle wit.
May you rest in peace,joy & love now with the lord.
Patti & Rick

[Anonymous]

written by Vic Vena.

Mid Saturday morning, my brother John and I were returning to my house from finishing some chores at the barn. John was in town lecturing this weekend at Bonas and he and I were scheduled to talk with pre-med students at “The Mountain” Saturday afternoon. As we hiked up the driveway, my wife Bonnie came out the back door. I knew from the look on her face that something serious had happened. “Vic, Kevin called. Fr. Dan Hurley is seriously ill and they are at the hospital with him- the program at The Mountain is cancelled.”
John had really looked forward to a reunion at The Mountain with Dan Hurley and Bob Struezynski, his former teachers and fellow founders of “the campus ministry.” (John was one of the students that were involved in the formation of this special part of Bona life that would eventually lead to the development of Mt. Irenaus.) Dan Hurley had been a part of our lives for as long as we could remember.
Later Saturday evening I tried to contact the Mountain and some Bona folks to see how Dan made out. Everywhere I called the line was busy or answering machines did not answer my questions. How was Dan? Did he survive?
Sunday morning I was greeted by the full fury of a virus I had felt coming on Saturday- There was no way I could drive to the Mountain to visit my brothers and console them if needed. More calls- more frustration! Maybe there would be something on the internet. But that seemed like such a cold way to hear the news that I was so afraid I would receive.
I sat at the kitchen table so disillusioned. Is this what the world has come to?
BOOM! A bird had crashed into the patio door behind me and fell paralyzed to the deck floor. A wood-pecker formally robed in its black with white stripes lay on its belly with a crooked neck, still breathing. Its eyes wide open and full of fear. It’s worse fear, a cat, rounded the corner of the house and headed toward the wounded creature. I lunged to the patio door, tearing it open- the cat walked within a foot of the bird but never even glanced at it. The bird’s eye was ripped with fear! As the cat came into the doorway, I left the doorway. Crouching down I straightened the woodpecker onto his feet but I needed a pair of gloves to pick it up (he was a woodpecker after all). I left the infirmed hoping to return before another cat did, or maybe just in time to see it fly away on its own.

continued....

[Anonymous]

continued....written by Vic Vena

Returning to the deck revealed that “woody” remained still worried-eyed, still paralyzed. “Hurls, if you are with the Lord, would you please ask him to take care of this little creature?” That is what came to my mind. I clutched the beautiful little creature that made no attempt to get away. Suddenly he began to move his wings. I took him over to some suet feeders that woodpeckers love- “He will rest here, out of harms way” I thought. As I set him down on his perch though, he flew! It was rhythmic and beautiful- and I knew- without a doubt- right there and then- that Dan was with the Lord. I had my answer. I ran to my computer and typed in the Mountain website. BOOM- cold, hard, black and white, Dan Hurley had died. I wept. My wife caught me crying. She reminded me that there was nothing to be sad about- without a doubt- that Dan was with the Lord!
Through his autobiography I learned that Dan Hurley lived by the credo “Here I am Lord- please help me to do my best.” How simple- how surrendering- how liberating- how beautiful- how powerful!
Dan taught philosophy, theology, and history. He was a master of the English language and also taught Latin and Hebrew. He did parish work and he managed several communities of friars.
Old or young, man or woman, Dan knew how to engage you when you met- with a completely happy smile, he would look you in the eye, touch your heart, and make you laugh as he chuckled. You knew instantly how very important you were to him. He would always ask about family and other things that were important to you- he would genuinely care.
Dan knew your grandparents and parents. He knew your children and he knew your grandchildren- and he cared…about each and every one of them. He deserved to be called “Father” for he was a guiding light to so many.
There is a beautiful story told about Father Dan Hurley moving to Mt. Irenaeus. Fr. Dan Riley, who was organizing that community was thrilled to have his happy, engaging, brilliant man be part of this new community.
“Wow,” Dan Riley thought- “his skills are perfect for the Mountain”- and was thrilled to have Hurls to himself on the drive to and from the campus. He could find out what great philosophies kept this man (Hurls) so happy!
So on one of the first drives into campus, Dan Riley asks Dan Hurley to reveal the truths to him. Hurls smiles, looks patiently at young Dan Riley and says, “I love God, and he loves me- that’s it!” Dan Riley was dumbstruck. In seven simple words Dan Hurley spoke volumes.
We will all have special memories of Father Dan Hurley and they will come to us at some of the darndest times. Nurture them, find joy in then, and share them with someone special.

May the Peace of our Lord and Dan Hurley be with you always,
Vic Vena

[Anonymous]

I am deeply saddened upon hearing of the passing of Fr. Dan. He was and continues to be a very meaningful part of my Bona experience. I know that he is with God and is resting in Peace.

-Jessica Gowlis Sciarretto '95

[Anonymous]

Dear Brothers I share in your sorrow, although I know that yours is much greater. I wish that I could sit in Dan's berry patch, where I know his spirit will continue to dwell, and talk to him. I'll do it from a distance, in Niagara Falls My love, and prayers for you all, Barbara Pfohl, Stella Niagara

[Anonymous]

My condolences go out to the Mountain community. We have all lost a good friend. I actually had Fr. Dan as a professor years ago - we had a chance to reminisce about it awhile ago. I will always remember the gentle man with the twinkle in his eye, a friar of such faith and humility.
Fr. Dan, may you continue to make those lucscious pies for the heavenly banquets and be there to welcome us with that twinkle and smile when we reach the pearly gates.

Rita O'Brien DeRose '58

[Julie McElmurry]

I only knew Father Dan since 2005 through my visits to the mountain during my arduous summers at the Franciscan Institute.

I am so glad that my husband got to meet him and my parents on their overnight there after my graduation in May of 2009.

Father Dan always met me with a smile. I enjoyed his wit and his friendly demeanor. His kindly attitude was a balm over the weeks of study and reading in summerschool. I remember seeing various awards which had been presented to him hung at the Mountain. I think one hangs in the chapel on campus. I can only imagine the myraid ways he inspired and influenced people over the course of his life among us.

I am cheered at the thought of him in the warm embrace of our loving God and can only imagine that he will be embraced by the many who loved him who went before him and eventually, by each of us who remain here now.

Peace,
Julie McElmurry, '09, Franciscan Studies

[Anonymous]

The decades of graduates represented in these comments says it all. Fr Dan touched so many lives for so many years. Fr Dan you were - and continue to be - an inspiration. A kind and gentle man, a joyful and vibrant spirit, young in mind and soul. My most sincere thanks for touching my life.

Jill Conlon '80

[RonB.]

Fr. Dan Hurley had the misfortune of living on 3rd Rob as our rector in the 1970's...such a gentle soul...I never saw him show anger even when the tennis balls were fired at his door (the goal, or course) in the wee hours...always a smile on his face...I enjoyed his homilies at Mass and he remembered my name at the class reunions...Rest in peace Fr. Dan...I loved knowing you...
Ronald Boyd SBU'74

[Anonymous]

Fr. Dan Hurley, rest in peace, I'll always treasure sharing meals and fellowship with you on the Mountain! God Bless You! Elise DeVido, Dept. of History